PM Modi Invited to Bangladesh Swearing-In, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Represent India

Dhaka: The recent general elections in Bangladesh have surprised everyone. BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) has won a landslide victory and their chairman, Tarique Rahman is now going to become the prime minister. The elections were held on February 12, and according to the results, BNP and its alliance won 212 out of 299 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance won only 77 seats. 151 seats were required for majority, so this is clearly more than a majority—more than two-thirds!

Who is Tariq Rehman?

He is the son of Khaleda Zia, who had previously been the Prime Minister. Tariq Sahab was in exile in London since 2008, but returned to Dhaka in December 2025 and is now becoming the Prime Minister for the first time. He returned on the pretext of his mother being unwell, but the timing was such that he created history by winning the elections.

When is the swearing-in?

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer the oath to the new MPs on February 17 at 10 am. Then at 4 pm, President Mohammad Shahabuddin Tariq Rahman and his cabinet will be administered the oath of office and secrecy. All this will happen at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. Tariq Rehman will replace Muhammad Yunus as head of the interim government, which took power in 2024 after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

What is India's stand?

India has welcomed the victory of BNP. PM Narendra Modi called Tariq Rahman, congratulated him on social media and wrote that this victory shows the confidence of the people of Bangladesh. India will stand with a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. Relations between the two countries will become stronger – the focus will be on peace, progress and cooperation.

BNP thanked Modi Ji for his message and said that he wants to work together with India, with mutual respect and sensitivity.

Who will go to India for the oath-taking ceremony?

PM Modi was invited, but he is not able to go (probably due to commitments, like AI summit and meeting with the President of France). Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will go from India's side. The Foreign Ministry said that this shows the old and deep friendly relations between our two countries.

Who else is invited?

Apart from India, leaders of a total of 13 countries have been invited – like China, Pakistan, Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka etc. This ceremony is being considered a big occasion for the new beginning of Bangladesh.
There was a lot of turmoil in Bangladesh in the last few years – the student movement in 2024 led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, followed by the formation of Yunus' interim government. There was tension between India and Bangladesh on some issues, such as the demand for Hasina's extradition and attacks on minorities. But now with the new government it is expected that relations will improve.

Overall, a new chapter is beginning in Bangladesh. Tariq Rehman has talked about unity and democracy after the victory, so let's see what happens next.