Sheikh Hasina calls Bangladesh PM's decision to skip BRICS summit immature

UPDATE - follow-up to 'Deeply unfortunate': Sheikh Hasina on Bangladesh skipping India-hosted BRICS summit: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has criticised current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for skipping the BRICS summit held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. Ms. Hasina described the decision as "immature" and harmful to Bangladesh's national interest, stating that a responsible government should open doors instead of closing them.

Details

New Delhi had invited Mr. Rahman to the summit in his capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC, which is the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. Ms. Hasina stated in an exclusive interview with PTI that if her presence in Delhi was the reason for his refusal, it was very unfortunate because state relations cannot rely on personal feelings or political sensitivities about one person. She recalled that when Ziaur Rahman visited Delhi in 1979 and London in 1980, she was living in those cities, but her presence did not stop him from travelling there. She asked why her presence in Delhi should stop Ziaur Rahman's son from visiting India today.

BRICS and Foreign Policy

Ms. Hasina noted that BRICS brings together major emerging economies to build cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, technology, and development. She said foreign policy must not be driven by personal reactions or short-term political calculations, and that friendship with one nation does not require hostility toward another. Relations between India and Bangladesh faced fresh strain after Ms. Hasina held a virtual media interaction in New Delhi on August 5, following which Dhaka demanded her extradition and linked it to Mr. Rahman's planned trip. Meanwhile, New Delhi stated it neither played a role in that event nor endorsed her comments. Ms. Hasina also accused the current government of encouraging anti-India rhetoric for domestic politics and taking major decisions without transparency.

Context

BRICS is an international grouping of emerging economies that offers member and invitee nations platforms for expanding trade, technology sharing, and financial cooperation. High-level diplomatic summits often serve as key venues for regional leaders to engage in multilateral discussions alongside bilateral talks. Regional stability and economic partnerships remain central to South Asian foreign policy frameworks.