Tarique Rahman to Be Sworn In as Bangladesh PM on Feb 17; 13 Nations Invited for Ceremony
PM Modi Invited to Tarique Rahman’s Oath Ceremony on February 17: A new political chapter is set to unfold in Bangladesh as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) prepares for the swearing-in of its top leader, Tarique Rahman, as Prime Minister on February 17.
Following a landslide victory in the recent parliamentary elections, the BNP has begun preparations for a grand oath-taking ceremony in Dhaka. In a bid to lend the event an international dimension, invitations have been extended to representatives from 13 countries, including regional and global powers such as India, China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan.
Will PM Modi Attend?
Speculation remains over whether Narendra Modi will attend the ceremony. Reports suggest that the Indian Prime Minister is unlikely to travel to Dhaka due to a prior engagement in Mumbai, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Emmanuel Macron on the same day. Instead, a senior government representative from New Delhi may attend the event.
Earlier, PM Modi held a telephone conversation with Tarique Rahman, congratulating him on the BNP’s decisive victory. In a statement following the call, Modi extended his best wishes and reiterated India’s commitment to maintaining peace, progress, and prosperity between the two neighboring nations.
Election Results
In the parliamentary elections, the BNP secured a commanding majority by winning 209 out of 297 declared seats, marking its return to power after nearly two decades. The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the second-largest political force with 68 seats. Meanwhile, the Awami League, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was barred from contesting the elections.
As Bangladesh prepares for a new government, regional observers will closely watch how the incoming administration shapes the country’s domestic and foreign policies in the coming months.
