Big political shift in Dhaka: Indian Speaker Om Birla to attend Tarique Rahman’s oath ceremony

Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), will be sworn in on February 17 in Dhaka after leading his party to power upon returning from a 17-year exile.

Confirming Birla’s participation, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement:

“Shri Om Birla, Hon’ble 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 H.E. Mr. Tarique Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, in Dhaka on February 17, 2026.”

Media reports indicate that Bangladesh had also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the ceremony.

Highlighting the longstanding ties between the two nations, the MEA said Birla’s participation “underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh” and reaffirms India’s commitment to the democratic values shared by both countries.

“As neighbours united by a shared history, culture, and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh's transition to an elected government under the leadership of H.E. Mr. Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people,” the statement added.

The visit is significant as India-Bangladesh relations had deteriorated during the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which assumed office after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid mass protests known as the July–August Uprising. Hasina subsequently fled to India on August 5, 2024.

The recent polls marked Bangladesh’s first democratic election since Hasina’s departure. The BNP secured a decisive victory, winning 209 seats in Thursday’s national election.

The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats.

In a notable post-election development, Rahman met Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman at his residence in Bashundhara Residential Area on Sunday evening, just days before taking oath. The meeting is being viewed as a positive political gesture ahead of government formation, according to Dhaka Tribune.

Rahman’s elevation also carries symbolic weight, as the prime minister’s office was previously held by his late mother, Khaleda Zia, a towering figure in Bangladesh’s political history.