India invites Sheikh Hasina to BRICS summit in Goa

Dhaka, July 26 (IANS) India has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to attend the BRICS and BRICS-BIMSTEC summit in October in Goa, Indian envoy Harsh Vardhan Shringla said here on Tuesday.

India will host the Eighth Annual Summit of BRICS on October 15-16 in Goa, in its capacity as chair of the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This is the second time that India is hosting a BRICS summit, after the fourth one in New Delhi in March 2012.

India assumed the rotating chairmanship of BRICS from Russia on February 15 and will hold the position till December 31, 2016.

Speaking at the National Defence College (NDC) in Dhaka, Shringla condemned the terror attacks which struck Bangladesh earlier this month and said the armed forces had played "a valiant role in effectively subduing the terrorists", bdnews24.com reported.

"..we salute your contribution and commitment towards peace and stability in your country," he said.

He also reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resolve to stand by Bangladesh in the fight against terrorism.

Referring to the foreign policy of India, the envoy said, "The policy has been more 'proactive', with a sense of renewed energy, vigour and planning in India's engagement with the rest of the world."

He also said India's foreign policy sought "a fair and just global order" attuned to the realities of the 21st century.

BRICS countries together represent 42 per cent of the world's population and their combined economic output exceeds $16 trillion.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) groups seven nations of South and Southeast Asia -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.