Acting Foreign Minister Humaiun Kobir will represent Bangladesh at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled for 1 – 4 November in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The four‑day summit will be hosted by the Caribbean nation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that his broader engagements at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting are expected to give Bangladesh opportunities to deepen diplomatic ties and discuss matters of mutual interest with fellow Commonwealth partners.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is a biennial summit that brings together heads of government, ministers and representatives from business, civil society and youth organisations, a senior official said. He noted that the gathering marks a significant occasion for the Caribbean nation.
Kobir is traveling to Antigua and Barbuda to head Bangladesh’s delegation to the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where he will be accorded the status and protocol privileges of a full cabinet minister.
He departed Dhaka on Saturday morning bound for St. John’s, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, where the four‑day Commonwealth summit begins today. He is expected to arrive in St. John’s later today after transiting through Dubai and London.
Bangladesh’s acting foreign minister will attend the high‑level gathering, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said he has been granted the status, authority and protocol privileges of a full cabinet minister for the duration of the meeting.
He is scheduled to attend the opening and executive sessions of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), as well as several foreign‑minister‑level meetings and a series of bilateral talks with ministers from other countries.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will head India’s delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. It remains unconfirmed whether the two ministers will meet on the sidelines of the CHOGM.
A Cabinet Division notification dated 25 October granted Kobir full cabinet‑minister status so that he can head Bangladesh’s delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2026 and perform the duties of the foreign minister throughout the summit. The appointment enables him to represent Bangladesh at CHOGM 2026 while assuming the foreign minister’s responsibilities for the duration of the event.
A notification signed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani conferred on him authority under Clause 4(iii) of the Rules of Business, 1996.
Under the agreement, the state minister will attend the Commonwealth’s highest‑level political summit as Bangladesh’s representative, receiving the rank and protocol privileges normally accorded to a cabinet minister.
This year's meeting is being held under the theme "Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth".
The summit will concentrate on bolstering partnerships among member states, encouraging sustainable investment, and tackling common challenges such as climate resilience, trade, innovation and sustainable development.
The Commonwealth comprises 56 member countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) serves as the primary forum through which the Commonwealth conducts dialogue and makes collective decisions.
Since its inaugural meeting in 1971, the forum has convened leaders as equal partners. It seeks to address shared challenges and to promote cooperation across a wide range of regions and economies.
Why it matters
Bangladesh's participation at CHOGM underscores its engagement with the 56‑member Commonwealth on trade, climate and development priorities.