Om Birla met Bangladesh’s newly sworn-in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on Tuesday and personally delivered a congratulatory letter from PM Modi.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday met Bangladesh’s newly sworn-in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka, personally delivering a congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting came after Rahman’s swearing-in, which marked the formation of Bangladesh’s new government following nearly 18 months of political uncertainty under the interim administration led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Exchange of greetings and bilateral optimism
According to a post on X by Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, Rahman conveyed his greetings to India and PM Modi during the courtesy meeting. Birla, in turn, extended India’s best wishes and formally invited the Bangladeshi leader. Both sides expressed optimism about strengthening cooperation focused on people-centric initiatives and the welfare of citizens in both countries.
Birla, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, attended the swearing-in ceremony on behalf of the Indian government. He also shared images from the event on X, reaffirming India’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s efforts in building a democratic, progressive, and inclusive nation.
Tarique Rahman takes charge
Tarique Rahman, son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and President Ziaur Rahman, was sworn in at the South Plaza in Dhaka, a break from the traditional venue of Bangabhaban. Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December 2025 after 17 years in self-imposed exile in London. This marks his first term as prime minister, succeeding interim government chief Yunus.
Earlier in the day, BNP lawmakers elected Rahman as leader of their parliamentary party. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Rahman, along with 25 cabinet ministers and 24 state ministers. The new cabinet includes two members from minority communities and, in a surprising move, inducted the outgoing interim government’s security adviser as a technocrat minister, while some senior BNP leaders were left out.
Election Background and Political Context
In the February 12 general elections, the BNP won 209 of 297 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68. The Awami League did not contest the polls. The elections followed a prolonged period of political unrest, including nationwide student-led protests in August 2024, which led to the fall of the Awami League government and a nearly 18-month period of instability under the interim administration.
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