The Government of India has announced Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India in Dhaka at the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Tarique Rahman, the new Prime Minster of Bangladesh on 17th February.
The invitation was extended to Indian PM Mr Narendra Modi , but he will not be attending, as he has other commitments on that day. Officially, it has been confirmed that on the same day PM Modi will be hosting French President Macron in Mumbai, and later in the evening will be chairing the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
According to the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs), Mr birla’s participation at this ceremony will signify the close and long-standing friendship between India and Bangladesh. His attendance will reconfirm India’s commitment to democracy in the region. Other officials, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri, will accompany him for the event.
A symbolic diplomatic presence
The invitation for the swearing-in ceremony was sent to PM Modi through diplomatic channels by Bangladeshi Interim Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on February 14 th , one day after the results of the election were announced, and after PM Modi had spoken with Mr Rahman by telephone regarding the same.
The final election results have shown that the BNP, led by Mr Rahman, has won a landslide victory with a two-thirds majority.
The election marked the first time that Bangladesh held a general election, since the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
At 10:00 a.m. CEC AMM Nasir Uddin will be swearing in all Members of Parliament, and at 4:00 p.m. President Mohammed Shahabuddin will be swearing in the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.
The ceremony will take place at Southern Plaza of Bangladesh Parliament House, Dhaka.
A historic transition in Bangladesh politics
The subsequent election of Mr. Rahman as Prime Minister (as of January 2026) marks Bangladesh’s first male Prime Minister in nearly 30 years, following his mother’s recent death (Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister December 2025) and the assassination of Mr. Rahman’s father (Ziaur Rahman, ex-President) in 1981 after ruling from taking power in 1975.
In addition to being a new beginning for Mr. Rahman, the BNP’s victory at the polls is personally important beyond just being a first-time male Prime Minister after 30 years, as Mr. Rahman has spent the previous 17 years in exile in England (returning December 2025). The BNP’s landslide victory puts Mr. Rahman back into politics after having not been involved in Bangladeshi politics for a period of 17 years and will also most likely fundamentally change the way politics is done in Bangladesh.
According to the Bangladesh Election Commission, the BNP-led coalition won 212 seats, the Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition secured 77 seats.
ALSO READ: India Bangladesh Reset Begins After Election Ends Period of Strain
Regional leaders invited
At least 13 countries received invitations from Bangladesh for the event, including Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, along with China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, and Brunei.
In addition, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will visit New Delhi this week for the AI summit. It remains uncertain who will be representing their governments in Dhaka.
BNP Foreign Affairs Advisor Humaiun Kobir previously stated that all regional leaders would receive an invite, indicating that Dhaka is looking to increase diplomatic engagement throughout South Asia and elsewhere.
India’s measured response
In sending the Lok Sabha Speaker instead of the Prime Minister to this event, India’s diplomatic approach appears to have been measured and thoughtful.
Although Prime Minister Modi was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts, having Mr. Birla attend shows that India continues to provide high-level representation. In addition, the Ministry of External Affairs characterized this act as further demonstrating India’s “steadfast commitment” to democratic principles and further developing bilateral relations with countries in the region.
FOR MORE: https://civiclens.in/category/national-news-civiclens-in/
About the Author
