Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to represent India at Bangladesh PM-elect Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in on February 17

Om Birla

• Om Birla to attend Rahman's swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka
• BNP's Tarique Rahman to be Bangladesh's new prime minister
• India reaffirms commitment to strong ties with Bangladesh

Did our AI summary help?

India will be represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on February 17. A press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs stated that Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, will attend the ceremony on behalf of the Government of India.

The statement noted that his presence at the event highlights the significance New Delhi places on its ties with Dhaka. “The Hon’ble Speaker’s participation at this important event underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh, reaffirming India's steadfast commitment to the democratic values that bind our two nations,” it said.

Transition in Dhaka

Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to assume office after his party secured a decisive mandate in the parliamentary elections. The BNP won 209 of the 297 declared seats, while the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami captured 68. The Awami League was barred from contesting the polls. Voter turnout was recorded at 59.44 per cent.

Rahman, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, had spent 17 years in self-imposed exile in London before returning as the central figure in the BNP’s campaign. The election marked the first national vote since the ouster of former premier Sheikh Hasina in 2024.

Regional invitations

Bangladesh has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the ceremony. However, he is unlikely to travel to Dhaka as he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on the same day.

The interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus invited 13 countries, including India, China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to attend.

India-Bangladesh engagement

Following the declaration of results, Modi spoke with Rahman and conveyed his wishes. “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,” he said in a post on X, adding that he looked forward to working together to advance shared development goals.

In his first remarks after the victory, Rahman stated that Bangladesh’s “interests” would shape relations with New Delhi and emphasised balanced ties with India, China and Pakistan. Responding to Modi’s message, the BNP said it anticipated constructive engagement with India grounded in mutual respect and sensitivity to each other’s concerns.