Bangladesh, Sept. 19 -- Bangladesh has missed a significant diplomatic opportunity by staying away from the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13. At a moment when emerging economies are demanding a greater role in global affairs and the international system is becoming increasingly multipolar, Dhaka chose not to participate in a forum that brought together some of the world's most consequential political and economic powers.

The decision is particularly notable because Bangladesh currently chairs the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), the regional grouping comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

India had extended an invitation to P...