India, which is going to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the important event that will focus on global cooperation, trade, and sustainable development.
Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the invitation letter from the Indian side and forwarded it to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Responding to a question, the State Minister said Bangladesh, as a democratic state with a democratically elected government, wants to see peace and stability in the region.
“This is our position, and we want peace and stability to be maintained in our region,” she said.
The State Minister said they expect India, as a large democratic state with a democratic government, will look into its people’s issues and will move towards a solution.
India's BRICS chairship is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach articulated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2025 Rio Summit.
The 17th BRICS Summit was held on July 6-7, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance."
BRICS member countries are Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the UAE, while partner countries are Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
The BRICS agenda has expanded considerably from its initial focus on economic issues of mutual concern and is structured around three core pillars - political and security; economy and finance; and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
BRICS cooperation continues to broaden its scope across a wide range of global issues, including the fight against terrorism, climate change, food and energy security, the international economic and financial situation, telecommunications, agriculture, labour and employment, international financial architecture, trade, and the WTO.
Responding to another question, Shama Obaed said the Foreign Ministry does not yet have any specific information about the phone call between President Mohammed Shahabuddin and convicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a recent foreign visit.
However, if any information comes, the government will definitely investigate the matter, she said.
There is speculation that President Shahabuddin may resign before August 5, citing physical illness as the reason.
Asked about the international acceptance of Bangladeshi passports and visa complications in various countries, Shama Obaed said there has been no downgrading of Bangladeshi passports.
“We have formed the government only four and a half months ago. There were visa-related problems even before that," she said.
Shama Obaed said visas are closed for Bangladeshi workers in some countries, especially the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has held several meetings with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare to resolve this issue.
Many Bangladeshis try to go abroad through illegal means instead of legal channels, using fake documents obtained through brokers, and the government is dealing with these problems seriously.
The government is in regular contact with the relevant countries to resolve the visa-related problems of Bangladeshis in various countries.