PM Modi receives Bangladesh invite for Tarique Rahman's oath on February 17
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Dhaka: Bangladesh has formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the February 17 swearing-in of Tarique Rahman as Prime Minister, following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) landslide victory in the first national election after Sheikh Hasina's ouster.
Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and founder Ziaur Rahman, returned from 17 years of London exile to lead BNP's capture of 209 of 297 seats, with Jamaat-e-Islami taking 68; Awami League was barred amid 59.44% turnout.
India has yet to confirm attendance, as both nations work to reset ties despite Dhaka's death sentence for Hasina, now in India, and extradition demands. Among 13 invitees—China, Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan—Pakistan's presence underscores shifting regional dynamics under interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Post-win, Modi called Rahman to pledge support for Bangladesh's peace and prosperity, rooted in shared history. Rahman prioritised national interests in foreign policy, seeking balanced ties with India, China, and Pakistan without dominance. BNP echoed hopes for mutual respect and South Asian stability in reply.