India will be represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister on 17 February in Dhaka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though invited, will miss the event.
India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent New Delhi at the swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, scheduled for Tuesday, 17 February, in Dhaka, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday.
The MEA said Birla’s participation “underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh”, reaffirming New Delhi’s commitment to the democratic values that bind the two nations.
Reports indicate that Birla is likely to be accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was invited to attend, will be unable to do so due to a scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on the same day.
Rahman, who also leads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to assume office after his party secured a sweeping victory in the first national election held following the ouster of former premier Sheikh Hasina in 2024.
The BNP said invitations have also been sent to leaders from China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan, highlighting the event’s regional significance.
Focus on improving India-Bangladesh ties
Relations between India and Bangladesh had cooled following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the July 2024 uprising. Hasina had taken refuge in India, and Dhaka repeatedly requested her extradition. Tensions were further heightened by recent attacks on minority communities, particularly Hindus.
The BNP government under Rahman has signalled a willingness to restore ties with India. BNP adviser Humayun Kabir said on Sunday that while New Delhi has a role in ensuring its actions do not undermine Bangladesh’s sovereignty, diplomatic cooperation can resume once these concerns are addressed. “We are neighbours and should work together for mutual benefit,” he told PTI, adding that Hasina, described as a “terrorist,” must still be extradited to Bangladesh.
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