The invitation to Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony extends to 13 heads of state, including Modi and Shehbaz.

Following the 13th national parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has secured an absolute majority and is set to form the new government. The swearing-in ceremony of the new administration is scheduled for next Tuesday, 17 February.

In preparation for this high-profile event, the caretaker government has extended invitations to thirteen heads of state. Among the invitees are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Other leaders invited include the heads of government from China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Bhutan.

According to NDTV, while Prime Minister Modi has received an invitation, he will not be travelling to Dhaka due to a prior commitment with French President Emmanuel Macron. In his place, either Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar or Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan may attend the ceremony.

The swearing-in event is being viewed as geopolitically significant. Analysts note that the incoming BNP leadership, under Tareq Rahman, has signalled a balanced approach to foreign relations, emphasising equal engagement with regional powers, including India, Pakistan, and China.

Notably, despite strained relations with India over recent years, Tareq Rahman spoke with Prime Minister Modi on Friday. During the conversation, Modi extended his congratulations and indicated a willingness to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

Diplomatic observers suggest that this ceremony could mark the beginning of a new phase in Bangladesh’s regional diplomacy, demonstrating the government’s intent to maintain constructive relationships with all its neighbours while asserting its own independent foreign policy.