Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 15: Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on February 17, the government announced on Saturday.
Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to assume office after his party secured a sweeping mandate in the first national election held following the ouster of former premier Sheikh Hasina in 2024.
Though Bangladesh extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the ceremony, he is unlikely to travel to Dhaka due to his scheduled bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on the same day.
In a statement, the government said Birla’s participation underscores the importance New Delhi attaches to its ties with Dhaka and reflects the shared democratic values between the two neighbours.
Among other regional leaders, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also expected to attend the ceremony. The interim administration headed by Muhammad Yunus has invited representatives from 13 countries, including India, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan.
The BNP won 209 of the 297 parliamentary seats, paving the way for its return to power after nearly two decades. The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats. Hasina’s Awami League was barred from contesting the polls. Voter turnout stood at 59.44 per cent.
Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, had spent 17 years in self-imposed exile in London before emerging as the central figure in his party’s campaign.
Following the declaration of results, PM 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,” Modi said in a post on X, adding that he looked forward to working together to advance shared development goals.
In his initial remarks after the victory, Rahman said Bangladesh’s “interests” would guide its ties with New Delhi. He emphasised Dhaka’s intent to maintain balanced relations with regional powers, including India, China and Pakistan, asserting that Bangladesh does not view any country as a “master”.
The BNP, responding to Modi’s message, said it looked forward to constructive engagement with India, guided by mutual respect and sensitivity to each other’s concerns.