Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will skip the first BIMSTEC home ministers' meeting in New Delhi, with Dhaka instead sending a delegation led by Home Affairs Senior Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhury. The two-day meeting begins on Monday, with senior officials gathering first and home ministers scheduled to meet on Tuesday.
Ahmed's absence comes amid strained relations between India and Bangladesh following the removal of Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024. Hasina subsequently fled to India, and her continued presence there has become a major source of friction between the two neighbours.
The decision also follows Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's absence from the outreach session of the BRICS summit in New Delhi last month, despite receiving an invitation from the Indian government in its capacity as BIMSTEC chair.
Bangladesh Delegation to Represent Dhaka
According to reports from Bangladeshi media, Chowdhury will lead the delegation, which is also expected to include AKM Shahidul Karim, an additional secretary in Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Joint Secretary Rebecca Khan.
Bangladesh assumed the BIMSTEC chairmanship in April 2025. Its decision to send senior officials rather than the home minister comes as member states prepare to discuss regional security and cooperation.
The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening coordination in law enforcement, intelligence sharing and efforts to combat terrorism and transnational crime. Representatives from several member countries are expected to attend the home ministers' session on Tuesday.
What Is BIMSTEC and Why Does the Meeting Matter?
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, known as BIMSTEC, comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The regional grouping aims to promote economic and technical cooperation among countries around the Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood. The inaugural home ministers' meeting is intended to strengthen security cooperation across South and Southeast Asia.
The gathering provides a platform for member states to discuss shared security concerns and improve coordination on cross-border challenges.
Sheikh Hasina's Presence in India Remains a Key Dispute
Sheikh Hasina's presence in India continues to complicate bilateral relations. Bangladesh has sought her extradition, while India has said the request is being examined in accordance with applicable law and established legal procedures.
In August, Bangladesh's foreign ministry said the atmosphere surrounding Prime Minister Rahman's potential visit had been affected by Hasina's virtual press interaction in New Delhi that month.
India, meanwhile, said it had no role in organising the media event and did not endorse remarks made there about the Bangladesh government.
Against this backdrop, the BIMSTEC meeting will proceed with Bangladesh represented by senior officials rather than its home minister. The discussions will test regional cooperation on security issues while India and Bangladesh continue to navigate their diplomatic differences.
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