# Salahuddin Ahmed to Skip First-Ever BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting in India

> Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will skip the first-ever BIMSTEC home ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on October 12–13, amid strained relations with India. Senior Home Ministry Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhu…

Published: 2026-10-12 · Desk: Latest · Source: TezzFeed Desk · By: SADIA ALAM ARMIN

Bangladesh's Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will not attend the first-ever meeting of the home ministers of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), scheduled to take place in New Delhi on October 12–13. Instead, Bangladesh will send a delegation led by a senior bureaucrat, a decision that comes amid strained relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.

Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, senior secretary of Bangladesh's Home Ministry, will lead a four-member delegation to the meeting. The gathering marks the first time home ministers from the seven-member regional organization will meet in this format since BIMSTEC was established nearly three decades ago.

According to a source at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, who independently confirmed the development to Daily Waadaa, Salahuddin's absence has also been reflected in official diplomatic correspondence between Bangladesh and the BIMSTEC secretariat.

The decision comes against the backdrop of recent diplomatic developments between Bangladesh and India, including Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's absence from the BRICS summit outreach session held in Delhi last month.

India had invited Tarique Rahman to attend the session in his capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC. However, the Bangladesh government clarified at the time that the invitation had been extended to him as the regional bloc's chair rather than in his capacity as Bangladesh's prime minister.

Salahuddin's decision not to attend the upcoming meeting has added to the series of recent developments drawing attention to the state of bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.

## Official Communication Confirms Bangladesh's Delegation

Bangladesh formally communicated its delegation nominations to the BIMSTEC secretariat through a letter sent by the Foreign Ministry on October 4. The letter named four representatives for the meetings scheduled for October 12 and 13, with Manzur Morshed Chowdhury designated as the head of the delegation.

Salahuddin Ahmed's name was notably absent from the list, indicating that the home minister would not participate in the ministerial-level gathering.

The nomination was subsequently acknowledged in an urgent communication issued by the BIMSTEC secretariat on October 5. The communication informed member states that Bangladesh had submitted its representatives' names on October 4.

By October 5, the secretariat had received nominations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand were asked to submit the names of their respective representatives without delay.

The secretariat had initially requested all member states to nominate their representatives on September 2 to facilitate preparations for the meetings.

The official correspondence provides further confirmation of Bangladesh's decision to send a delegation headed by a senior official rather than its home minister.

## India to Chair the Ministerial Meeting

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to chair the ministerial-level meeting on Tuesday, October 13, according to the BIMSTEC secretariat and diplomatic sources in New Delhi.

The meeting of senior officials will take place on Monday, October 12, under the leadership of Indian Home Secretary Govind Mohan.

Representatives from the other BIMSTEC member states are also expected to participate in the discussions, including several serving home ministers.

Bhutan is expected to be represented by Home Minister Lungten Dorji, while Myanmar's delegation is expected to be led by Home Minister General Ko Ko Oo. Nepal's Home Minister Sudan Gurung and Sri Lanka's Home Minister Chandana Abeyratne are also expected to attend.

Thailand is expected to send Deputy Interior Minister Sungsak Thongsri, according to a report by Prothom Alo.

Bangladesh's delegation, led by Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, will represent the country in the absence of Salahuddin Ahmed.

The meeting is intended to strengthen cooperation among BIMSTEC members on regional security issues that require coordination across national borders.

## Terrorism and Transnational Crime on the Agenda

Strengthening regional cooperation to combat terrorism and transnational organized crime is expected to be a major focus of the discussions.

The participating countries are expected to examine ways to improve cooperation in addressing a range of cross-border security threats, including human trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, and terrorist financing.

These challenges often involve criminal networks operating across multiple countries, making information sharing and coordinated law enforcement responses essential to effective prevention and investigation.

The meeting is also expected to discuss ways to improve coordination among law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, and other security institutions across the seven member states.

Closer collaboration in these areas could help countries exchange relevant information, strengthen investigative capabilities, and respond more effectively to emerging regional security threats.

As a regional organization connecting countries around the Bay of Bengal, BIMSTEC provides a platform for cooperation on a range of shared concerns, including security, trade, connectivity, and economic development.

The participation of home ministers and senior security officials is expected to provide an opportunity to discuss common challenges and explore practical measures for strengthening regional collaboration.

## Diplomatic Context Draws Attention

Although Bangladesh has nominated a delegation for the meetings, Salahuddin Ahmed's absence has attracted attention because of the broader diplomatic context surrounding relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.

The home minister's decision follows Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's absence from the BRICS summit outreach session in Delhi last month, to which India had invited him as the current chair of BIMSTEC.

At the time, the Bangladesh government emphasized that the invitation was extended in his capacity as the chair of the regional organization, rather than as the country's prime minister.

The two developments have brought renewed attention to Bangladesh's representation at regional and international engagements hosted by India.

However, the reasons behind Salahuddin's absence have not been independently established beyond the official nomination process and diplomatic communications described in the reports.

The October 12–13 meetings will proceed with participation from representatives of the BIMSTEC member states, with Bangladesh represented by a delegation led by its Home Ministry's senior secretary.

The discussions are expected to focus on identifying areas for stronger regional cooperation, particularly in tackling terrorism, organized crime, and other cross-border security challenges.

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