Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited his Bangladeshi counterpart Tarique Rahman to attend the BRICS summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 12-13 September, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Thursday.
She confirmed the development while responding to queries from journalists about reports in Indian media regarding the invitation.
Shama Obaed said Bangladesh has received a formal invitation letter from the Indian government, which has been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office.
However, no decision has yet been made on Tarique Rahman’s participation.
The 18th BRICS summit will be held in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September. The host country may invite leaders from non-member countries as special guests to the summit of the 11-member grouping.
The invitation is being viewed as part of efforts to improve ties between the two neighbouring countries, sources said.
Meanwhile, responding to reports that President Mohammed Shahabuddin held a phone conversation with ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina during his recent foreign trip, Shama Obaed said the Foreign Ministry has no information about the matter.
She said the ministry would take necessary action after an investigation if any official of a Bangladesh mission is found to have been involved in the incident.
Asked about the ongoing “Cockroach Janata Party” movement in India, the state minister said Bangladesh wants peace and stability in the region.
“As a democratic country, we hope India will resolve the issue through its own democratic process,” she said.
