A delegation led by a senior civil servant from Bangladesh will be send for the inaugural meeting of BIMSTEC home ministers in New Delhi, with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed set to remain absent amid deteriorating relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.
Home Affairs Senior Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhury is heading the Bangladeshi team at the two-day meeting, which begins on Monday.
The delegation also includes AKM Shahidul Karim, an additional secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible for SAARC, BIMSTEC and other priority issues, and Joint Secretary Rebecca Khan, according to a report by Dhaka Tribune.
The report does not specify why Home Minister Ahmed will be absent.
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, BIMSTEC is a regional organisation of countries around the Bay of Bengal and neighbouring areas (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand) formed in 1997 that promotes economic and technical cooperation among countries .
The grouping aims to improve security coordination among members covering law enforcement cooperation, intelligence sharing, counterterrorism and measures against transnational crime.
The minister's absence comes against the backdrop of strained bilateral relations following the removal of Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024. Hasina subsequently left Bangladesh for India, where she continued presence has become a major source of disagreement between the two countries.
Dhaka has requested her extradition. India has said the request is being examined under applicable laws and established legal procedures.
Tensions have also surfaced over political engagements involving Bangladesh's leadership. Last month, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman did not attend the outreach session of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, despite receiving an invitation from the Indian government in his capacity as BIMSTEC chair.
Bangladesh's foreign ministry said in August that the atmosphere surrounding Rahman's visit had been affected by a virtual press interaction held by Hasina 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 Bangladeshi government.
Bangladesh assumed the chairmanship of BIMSTEC in April 2025.
The home ministers' meeting represents an opportunity for members to discuss shared security concerns and improve cooperation across South and Southeast Asia.
Bangladesh's representation will be led by senior officials rather than its home minister, as bilateral tensions continue.
The available reports have not established a direct link between Ahmed's absence and the diplomatic disagreements with India.
