Following a decisive victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to lead a new government with Tarique Rahman at the helm. In a gesture of regional diplomacy and international cooperation, the outgoing Chief Adviser of the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has extended formal invitations to the heads of government from thirteen nations to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
A Landmark Diplomatic Gathering
The invitations were finalised on Saturday night following high-level consultations between the interim administration and the BNP’s senior leadership. The goal of this outreach is to reset Bangladesh’s foreign relations and signal a new era of “constructive engagement” with both immediate neighbours and key global partners.
The guest list represents a strategic mix of South Asian neighbours, Middle Eastern allies, and major Asian economic powers. The presence of both the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, is particularly significant, as it marks the first time since 2014 that such a high-level assembly of regional leaders has been invited to a Dhaka-based inauguration.
Invited Heads of Government
| Region | Invited Countries |
|---|---|
| South Asia (SAARC) | India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan |
| East Asia | China |
| Middle East | Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| Southeast Asia | Malaysia, Brunei |
| Eurasia | Turkey |
The Inauguration Itinerary
The transition of power is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. Breaking from the tradition of holding these ceremonies within the presidential palace (Bangabhaban), the event has been moved to the South Plaza of the National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban) to accommodate a larger audience and symbolise the return of parliamentary supremacy.
The day’s proceedings will be divided into two distinct sessions:
Morning Session: Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin will administer the oath of office to the newly elected Members of Parliament.
Afternoon Session: President Mohammed Shahabuddin will preside over the swearing-in of the Prime Minister and the initial small-scale Cabinet.
A Mandate for Reform
The election, held on 12 February, saw the BNP-led alliance secure more than two-thirds of the seats in Parliament (212 out of 299). This landslide victory was accompanied by a national referendum on the “July Charter,” which received overwhelming public support. The new government has pledged to implement two-term limits for Prime Ministers and strengthen judicial independence as part of its foundational reforms.
As world leaders prepare to send their representatives or attend in person, the eyes of the international community remain on Dhaka, witnessing the conclusion of a transition that began with the mass uprising of August 2024.
