Tariq Rahman will take oath as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 17 February. India will be represented at the function by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. This will strengthen India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations.
Dhaka: A new government is going to be formed in Bangladesh on February 17, in which BNP President Tariq Rahman will take oath as Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend from India’s side on this occasion. On behalf of the Government of India, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will represent the swearing-in ceremony.
BNP leader ANM Ehsanul Haq Milan had requested Prime Minister Modi to attend the function a day earlier, but this was not possible as Modi was scheduled to hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on the same day.
Foreign Ministry statement
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement saying that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent the Government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Bangladesh government under the leadership of Tariq Rahman in Dhaka on February 17. The ministry said the participation of the Lok Sabha Speaker underlines the deep and unbreakable friendship between the people of India and Bangladesh.
As neighboring countries bound by shared history, culture and mutual respect, India welcomes the formation of the elected Government of Bangladesh under the leadership of Tariq Rahman.
Time and place of oath taking
Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin will swear in the new cabinet on February 17 at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex. The ceremony is being held at South Plaza instead of the traditional Rashtrapati Bhavan, which makes the event even more special.
Given the possibilities of reshaping relations between India and Bangladesh, this ceremony will strengthen diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.
BNP’s stance on India-Bangladesh relations
Humayun Kabir, advisor to BNP President Tariq Rahman, said that India should accept the changed political reality after the huge mandate given to BNP in Bangladesh. He stressed that Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League are no longer in power in present-day Bangladesh.
Kabir told that Sheikh Hasina has come to India after the public revolt in August 2024 and she has been declared a terrorist and held responsible for the death of more than 1,500 people. He urged the Indian government not to become a participant in any activity that could affect the stability of Bangladesh.
Normal diplomatic cooperation possible again
Humayun Kabir said that if the disputes related to Sheikh Hasina and Awami League are resolved then normal diplomatic cooperation can be resumed. He also said that India and Bangladesh should work together for mutual benefit.
After Tariq Rehman becomes Prime Minister, cooperation between the two countries may increase in trade, security and cultural sectors. The presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will further strengthen this diplomatic relationship.
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