Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on February 17.
Rahman, who heads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to take office after his party secured a decisive mandate in the first general election held since the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024.
Although Bangladesh extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he is unlikely to attend as he is scheduled for bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai the same day. In an official statement, the government said Birla’s participation highlights the importance India places on its ties with Dhaka and reflects the democratic values shared by the two countries.
Several regional leaders are also expected to attend the ceremony. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to be present in Dhaka. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has reportedly invited representatives from 13 countries, including India, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan.
BNP’s strong mandate
The BNP won 209 of the 297 parliamentary seats, clearing the way for its return to power after nearly 20 years. The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats, while Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League did not contest the election. Voter turnout was recorded at 59.44 per cent.
Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, had spent 17 years in self-imposed exile in London before taking a leading role in the party’s campaign.
India-Bangladesh relations
After the results were declared, Prime Minister Modi spoke with Rahman and conveyed his congratulations.
“I conveyed my best wishes and support in his endeavour to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh. As two close neighbours with deep-rooted historical and cultural ties, I reaffirmed India’s continued commitment to the peace, progress, and prosperity of both our peoples,” Modi wrote on X, adding that he looked forward to working together to advance shared development priorities.
In his first remarks following the victory, Rahman said Bangladesh’s national interests would guide its relationship with New Delhi. He stressed that Dhaka seeks balanced ties with regional powers, including India, China and Pakistan, and does not regard any country as a “master”.
Responding to Modi’s message, the BNP said it was keen on constructive engagement with India based on mutual respect and sensitivity to each other’s concerns.