Dhaka: Bangladesh is set to witness a major political transition on Tuesday as the newly elected government led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) prepares to take the oath of office on February 17. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament in Dhaka, with invitations extended to leaders from 13 countries, including India, China, and Pakistan.
According to diplomatic sources, the guest list includes India, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Bhutan. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among those invited.
The BNP secured a landslide victory in the February 12 parliamentary elections, winning 209 of the 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad. The party is led by Tarique Rahman, whose leadership marks a new chapter in the country’s politics.
Bangladesh’s interim administration, headed by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, oversaw the transition and issued invitations to foreign dignitaries. The Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo first reported details of the ceremony.
Earlier, senior BNP leader ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon said it was a matter of diplomatic courtesy to invite Prime Minister Modi. Speaking to reporters in Dhaka, he emphasized the BNP’s inclusive foreign policy approach, summarized as “friendship with all, malice toward none.”
Following the election results, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Tarique Rahman on the BNP’s decisive win. In a post on the social media platform X, Modi said India would continue to support a democratic, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh and expressed his desire to work closely with the new leadership to strengthen bilateral ties and advance shared development goals.
The BNP also publicly thanked Modi for recognizing Rahman’s leadership and the mandate given by the Bangladeshi people.
The 2026 election marked the first national poll since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power following mass protests in 2024. In the new parliament, the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance has emerged as the principal opposition force.
Observers see the upcoming swearing-in ceremony as a symbolic moment, signaling both a domestic political reset and Bangladesh’s intent to maintain active engagement with regional and global partners.