Bangladesh has no scope to send a representative to the BRICS summit due to be held in India, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said on Thursday, adding that Dhaka was placing greater emphasis on bilateral visits and talks.

Asked by reporters at the Foreign Service Academy about Bangladesh’s participation in the summit, Kobir said: “How would it happen? Has anyone from the Bangladesh government been officially invited?”

Asked whether Bangladesh had been invited in its capacity as BIMSTEC chair, he said: “They gave it (the invitation) to the BIMSTEC chair. Our prime minister has not been invited.”

He also said there was no hurry over a visit to India.

“There’s no scope here. We are placing greater emphasis on bilateral visits and talks. When the environment is favourable and mutual respect is maintained, then bilateral visits will take place. There’s nothing to rush about here. And the first visit cannot be multilateral,” the state minister said.