Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh's incoming prime minister, Tarique Rahman, on February 17, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Secretary-General of Lok Sabha Utpal Kumar Singh are also likely to accompany him, rounding up the senior diplomatic presence from India, sources in the know told PTI.
Birla will be replacing PM Narendra Modi at the ceremony, who had been originally invited by Dhaka, but was unable to attend it, as he had a prior commitment—talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on the same day.
"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," the MEA said in a statement.
Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, will represent the Government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government of Bangladesh led by Tarique Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, in Dhaka on February 17, 2026: MEA pic.twitter.com/fMHVdOfTRr
— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2026
"As neighbours united by a shared history, culture, and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh's transition to an elected government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people," it added.
The Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)—which scored a historic win in the 2026 elections with 212 of the 297 announced seats—on Saturday thanked PM Modi for his congratulatory message on the party's win in the polls, and said that it looked forward to engaging with India to boost peace and stability in South Asia.
Thank you very much, Honourable @narendramodi. We greatly appreciate your kind acknowledgment of Mr. Tarique Rahman’s leadership in securing the BNP’s decisive win in the national elections. This outcome reflects the trust and confidence the people of Bangladesh have placed in… https://t.co/hJAOguIvKZ
— Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP (@bdbnp78) February 14, 2026
At a press conference later that day, when asked about ties with India, PM-designate Tarique Rahman simply declared that the "interests of Bangladesh and its people will determine our foreign policy”.
VIDEO | “The interests of Bangladesh and its people will determine our foreign policy,” says BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman in response to a question on ties with India.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 14, 2026
(Full video available on https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/olakg8htte
This is in line with the BNP Chairman's 'Bangladesh First' policy, which mirrors Washington's 'America First' policy, and shows Dhaka's desire to recalibrate its ties with regional neighbours, especially India, Pakistan, and China.
