Dhaka/New Delhi — Following a landslide victory in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman is set to be sworn in as the country’s next prime minister on February 17.
The head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Muhammad Yunus, has extended invitations to 13 countries, including India, to attend the swearing-in ceremony. However, Indian officials indicated that New Delhi is likely to be represented by a senior government official rather than Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on the same day, making his presence at the Dhaka ceremony highly unlikely.
Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Modi spoke with Tarique Rahman over the phone, congratulating him on his party’s decisive election victory. During the conversation, both leaders expressed their commitment to working together for the prosperity and well-being of the people of India and Bangladesh.
India’s decision to send a senior official instead of the prime minister is being seen as a diplomatic balancing act, reflecting New Delhi’s intent to maintain engagement with the new Bangladeshi leadership while honoring prior international commitments.