India’s Speaker to Attend Dhaka Oath

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, will not travel to Dhaka for the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s newly elected government led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. Instead, New Delhi will be represented by Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, according to an official statement issued on Sunday by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

The ceremony is scheduled for 17 February at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad complex in Dhaka. Diplomatic sources have also confirmed that India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, is expected to attend, signalling the importance New Delhi attaches to the occasion despite the Prime Minister’s absence.

In its statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs noted that the Speaker’s participation underscores the “deep and enduring friendship” between the peoples of India and Bangladesh. It further reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to democratic values, which it described as a binding force between the two neighbouring nations.

Bangladesh and India share a long and intertwined history, shaped by common cultural ties, linguistic affinities and the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War. Over the past decade, bilateral relations have expanded across trade, connectivity, energy cooperation and security collaboration. India has welcomed what it characterises as a democratic transition in Bangladesh, marked by the transfer of power to an elected government under Tarique Rahman’s leadership.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured an absolute majority in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, paving the way for the formation of a new government. The swearing-in ceremony, due to take place on Tuesday afternoon, is expected to be attended by a range of foreign dignitaries.

The Chief Adviser of the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, extended invitations to the heads of government from 13 countries. According to officials in Delhi, Prime Minister Modi received the formal invitation on Saturday.

Based on consultations between the interim administration and senior BNP policymakers, invitations were issued to leaders from the following countries:

The presence of parliamentary and diplomatic representatives from India, rather than the Prime Minister himself, is being viewed in diplomatic circles as a calibrated yet respectful gesture. Observers suggest that while high-level representation remains intact, the choice of envoy reflects broader regional scheduling and strategic considerations.

Nonetheless, the participation of senior Indian figures reinforces the enduring significance of Dhaka–Delhi ties at a moment of political transition in Bangladesh.