Bangladesh: Will PM Modi attend Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony?

New Delhi. The new government in Bangladesh is set to be sworn in on February 17th. Invitations have been sent to the heads of 13 countries, including India, for the swearing-in ceremony of this government, led by BNP chief Tarique Rahman. However, the likelihood of Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the event is considered very low.

The reason behind this is not the recent tensions between the two countries, but rather PM Modi’s important engagement that day. French President Emmanuel Macron will be visiting India on February 17th. An important meeting between PM Modi and Macron is scheduled for the same day in Mumbai. Following this, both leaders will participate in the AI ​​Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Therefore, the Prime Minister’s visit to Dhaka on the same day is considered extremely unlikely. It is possible that External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will represent India.

Which countries has Bangladesh invited to the swearing-in ceremony?
Dhaka has sent formal invitations to India, China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Bhutan. BNP foreign policy advisor Humayun Kabir stated that this move is intended to strengthen regional cooperation. He described it as a message of goodwill and said that this initiative is part of the vision to make South Asia a strong and influential region.

Will anyone else from India attend?
It is believed that if PM Modi is unable to attend in person, a senior Indian representative may be sent to the swearing-in ceremony. This could include External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar or another top official. India typically ensures high-level representation at important political events in neighboring countries.

This election in Bangladesh comes after the 2024 student protests and the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. Relations between Bangladesh and India have also seen some tension since the coup. However, immediately after the election results were announced, PM Modi called Tariq Rahman and congratulated him and expressed his support for a democratic and progressive Bangladesh.