Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bangladesh government led by Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on February 17, the government announced on Sunday.An official statement said Birla’s participation reflects the “deep and enduring friendship” between India and Bangladesh and reaffirms New Delhi’s commitment to democratic processes in the neighbourhood.Bangladesh had formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the ceremony. However, Modi will be engaged in bilateral talks with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai the same day and will also be attending India-AI Impact Summit 2026, being hosted concurrently in India.Officials said the ceremony is expected to see participation from representatives of several countries and will formally mark the beginning of Bangladesh’s new government under Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).The statement described India and Bangladesh as neighbours linked by shared history, culture and mutual respect, and said New Delhi welcomed the transition to an elected government in Dhaka following the recent polls.Modi was among the first world leaders to congratulate Rahman after the election results and spoke to him over the phone, expressing support for efforts to fulfil the aspirations of the Bangladeshi people.
