DHAKA (Feb 17, 2026) — In a significant move to define the next chapter of neighborhood relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended an official invitation to the newly sworn-in Bangladesh Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, to visit India.
The invitation was hand-delivered by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who represented India at the swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka today.
Key Diplomatic Developments
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Handover of Invitation: Speaker Om Birla met with PM Tarique Rahman shortly after the latter took the oath of office, conveying PM Modi’s best wishes for his tenure.
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Support for Democracy: Following the ceremony, Birla stated that India stands ready to support Bangladesh’s efforts to remain a “democratic, progressive, and inclusive nation.”
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Bilateral Optimism: High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah noted that both leaders expressed a strong desire to pursue “people-centric cooperation” for the mutual benefit of both nations.
The Election Context
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Rahman, returned to power after nearly two decades with a decisive two-thirds majority (209 seats) in the February 12 polls.
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The New Landscape: The election also saw a significant performance by the Jamaat-e-Islami (68 seats) and the National Citizen Party (6 seats).
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India’s Presence: While PM Modi was unable to attend due to a high-level summit with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai, the presence of the Speaker and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri underscored India’s intent to engage with the new leadership immediately.
Strategic Sidelines
Beyond the ceremony, Speaker Om Birla utilized the visit to hold brief discussions with other regional leaders in attendance, including Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay, signaling a broad diplomatic outreach within the SAARC region.
