India explains why Bimstec chair, other regional groupings were invited to BRICS summit

India has explained that the idea behind inviting regional groupings including Bimstec, as outreach countries to the recent BRICS summit in Delhi was to hear from them what their expectations are.

This was stated by Sudhakar Dalela, secretary (economic relations) of the external affairs ministry, at a special media briefing on the concluding day of the summit on Sunday evening (13 September).

Dalela's response came when he was asked how India selected these outreach countries and, when it came to the Bimstec chair, Bangladesh, what was the status.

He was also asked who represented Bangladesh at the summit or if there was no one present in the room from the Bangladeshi side.

As hosts of the summit, India had invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the event as the current chairman of Bimstec countries. But Tarique did not attend the two-day event on 12-13 September.

"As [Indian] Prime Minister mentioned in his intervention [at the summit] that we should be very well aware of what are the aspirations of Global South and then only we can articulate them at the global stage effectively to meet the aspirations of the global South.

"So, from that perspective, we chose these few country chairs of these organisations. Bimstec chair was also invited." Dalela said.

He continued, "About the outreach countries, I think one common thread in the discussion both yesterday and today was as to how BRICS can come up with outcomes and deliverables which are relevant for Global South in general.

"And in that context, it is in that spirit in terms of the BRICS grouping, nature of BRICS grouping and its membership, it was felt that perhaps it would be a good idea to reach out to other continents and invite the country chairs of the developing country groupings such as Asean, African Union, CELAC in Latin American and Caribbean region, and also Gulf Cooperation Council and Bimstec, and see and share with them what BRICS is all about, what are we doing within the BRICS grouping, and we try to sort of understand what are their expectations."

Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on 10 September said there is no scope for Bangladesh to send a government representative to the BRICS Summit, as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was not invited to the summit and the invitation was instead extended to the Bimstec chair.

"How shall we go? Has anyone from the Bangladesh government been invited? Our prime minister was not invited. Who told you that our prime minister was invited? The Bimstec chair was invited. Then why are you asking this question?" he told reporters in Dhaka, ruling out the possibility of Tarique attending the BRICS Summit.

Responding to a question, Humaiun said the PM's first visit to India cannot be a multilateral one.

He said the government is working on arranging a bilateral visit to India when the timing is conducive, stressing that Bangladesh is placing greater emphasis on a bilateral visit by the prime minister and discussions.

Humaiun said such a bilateral visit will take place when the environment is conducive and mutual respect is maintained. "There is no need to rush things."