India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, will not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s newly elected government led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. Instead, New Delhi will be represented by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, according to an official statement issued on Sunday by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
The ceremony, scheduled for 17 February at the South Plaza of the National Parliament in Dhaka, marks the formal assumption of office by the new administration following the Thirteenth Jatiya Sangsad elections. Diplomatic sources have confirmed that India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, will also attend, underscoring the importance New Delhi attaches to the occasion.
In its statement, the Indian government observed that the Speaker’s participation reflects the “deep and enduring friendship” between the peoples of India and Bangladesh. It further reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to democratic values that bind the two nations, noting their shared history, cultural affinities, and longstanding ties of mutual respect.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured an absolute majority in the recent parliamentary election, thereby gaining a clear mandate to form government. Under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, the party is preparing to take office amid heightened domestic and regional interest. Observers view the transition as a significant democratic milestone, particularly given Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape and the regional implications of its electoral outcomes.
The interim government’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has extended invitations to the heads of government of thirteen countries to attend the inauguration. According to diplomatic sources in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi received the formal invitation on Saturday.
The invited countries are listed below:
| No. | Country | Level of Invitation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | Head of Government |
| 2 | India | Head of Government |
| 3 | Pakistan | Head of Government |
| 4 | Saudi Arabia | Head of Government |
| 5 | Türkiye | Head of Government |
| 6 | United Arab Emirates | Head of Government |
| 7 | Qatar | Head of Government |
| 8 | Malaysia | Head of Government |
| 9 | Brunei | Head of Government |
| 10 | Sri Lanka | Head of Government |
| 11 | Nepal | Head of Government |
| 12 | Maldives | Head of Government |
| 13 | Bhutan | Head of Government |
Analysts suggest that while Prime Minister Modi’s absence may draw attention, the dispatch of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha constitutes a high-level and diplomatically significant gesture. It signals India’s intention to maintain continuity in bilateral engagement, irrespective of domestic political changes in Dhaka.
India and Bangladesh share extensive cooperation in trade, energy connectivity, border management, and regional security. Against this backdrop, the forthcoming inauguration is widely regarded not merely as a domestic constitutional formality, but as a moment of regional diplomatic importance, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to democratic governance and constructive partnership.
