India will be represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister-designate Tarique Rahman on February 17 in Dhaka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who received an official invitation for the event, will not attend due to his pre-scheduled engagements in Mumbai.
The ceremony is being seen as an important political moment for Bangladesh as Rahman prepares to take charge after his party’s decisive electoral victory. Leaders and representatives from around 13 countries have been invited, underlining the regional importance of the new government’s formation.
India’s delegation will also include Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. According to official sources, sending the Lok Sabha Speaker reflects New Delhi’s intention to maintain strong and stable ties with Dhaka and to show support for the democratic transition in the neighbouring country.
The programme in Dhaka will begin with the swearing-in of the newly elected Members of Parliament, followed by the oath-taking of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. The event will be held at the national Parliament complex and is expected to be attended by several international dignitaries.
India has already conveyed its good wishes to the incoming government and expressed readiness to work closely with the new leadership. Despite the Prime Minister’s absence, the high-level representation at the ceremony is being viewed as a strong diplomatic gesture and a sign of the importance India places on its relationship with Bangladesh.
Rahman, who heads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to lead the new government after the party secured a clear mandate in the general election. His leadership marks a significant political shift, and both countries are expected to work towards continuing cooperation in areas such as trade, connectivity, security and cultural exchange.
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