Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said there was no request from Bangladesh to become a member of BRICS right now.

"We didn't go to tell anyone to make us a member right now," she said.

The PM said this while addressing a press conference at the Gono Bhaban on the outcome of her recent visit to South Africa and her participation in the 15th BRICS Summit there.

BRICS leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, however, expanded the grouping with a decision to include six more countries as members. They are Argentina, Egypt, Ehiopia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The PM attended the summit in Johannesburg on August 22-24 at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The prime minister said global leaders got a better picture of Bangladesh's socio-economic development achieved under her leadership when she participated in the BRICS summit last week in Johannesburg.

"Overall, by participating in the 'BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue' meeting, under the leadership of my government, I have been able to present the picture of Bangladesh's socio-economic development to the world," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said she informed the international community about the various preparations and activities undertaken by her government to build "Smart Bangladesh" through the implementation of Vision 2041.

She also called upon the countries of the global south to reject the inequality imposed on them in the name of universal rule.

"We are no longer willing to suffer because of artificial decisions imposed on the countries of the South," she said.

She hoped that the initiative to establish Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism through this conference will be fruitful. "...and the BRICS alliance will play its role properly as an ideal platform in this regard," she said.