Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been officially invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman, the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The event is scheduled to take place on February 17, 2026, at the South Plaza of the National Parliament in Dhaka.The invitation was extended by the interim government following a landslide victory by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the recent general elections.
This election marks a major political shift in the country, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024.
Tarique Rahman, the son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is returning to lead the country after living in exile for 17 years.Despite the high-profile invitation, Prime Minister Modi is unlikely to attend the ceremony in person.
His schedule for February 17 includes a bilateral meeting in Mumbai with French President Emmanuel Macron, who is visiting India for an AI Impact Summit.
Additionally, New Delhi is hosting a major summit on Artificial Intelligence during the same week.Instead of the Prime Minister, India will be represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Other regional leaders, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and representatives from China and several SAARC nations, have also been invited.
The exchange of invitations and recent telephone conversations between PM Modi and Tarique Rahman suggest a mutual desire to reset and stabilize India-Bangladesh relations.
After the election results, PM Modi congratulated Rahman on his victory, expressing India’s commitment to the progress and prosperity of the Bangladeshi people. Observers see this diplomatic outreach as a crucial first step in building a constructive relationship with the new administration in Dhaka.
