Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday thanked India for inviting Bangladesh to the G20 summit and said New Delhi brought dynamism to the grouping through its presidency.
"They brought dynamic change to the concept of G20. They took the G20 to the people," he said, as India hosted over 200 programs in 50 cities throughout its year of presidency that began on December 1, 2022.
"Traditionally, G20 ends with a summit, and people read about it in newspapers," the foreign minister replied to a question at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US, and the EU are members of the G20, founded in 1999.
They represent around 85% of global GDP, over 75% of international trade, and about two-thirds of the world's population.
India is at the group's helm from December 1, 2022, to November 30, this year, with the theme “One Earth. One Family. One Future”.
They set six priorities that include inclusive and resilient growth, green development and LiFE, technological transformation and public digital infrastructure, reforming multilateral institutions, women-led development, and international peace and harmony.
Bangladesh has been invited as the only guest country from South Asia.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will join the summit on September 9 and 10.
"We thank India. They have honoured us. We are very honoured," the foreign minister said about Bangladesh's invitation.
"We would like to be the voice of the global south. India gave us that scope," he said, adding: "Bangladesh will be the big voice in G20."
Earlier, at a foreign ministry event on "G20 Summit: Dhaka to New Delhi", Dr Momen said they "fully subscribe" to the six thematic priorities identified by India.
"We believe that our honourable prime minister’s participation at the G20 Summit in New Delhi will add yet another feather to the ‘Sonali Adhyay’ or ‘Golden Chapter’ of our bilateral relations," he said.