Following a landslide victory for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman was officially sworn in as Prime Minister on February 17, 2026, ending his 17-year exile and signaling a transformative political shift. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a formal congratulatory message and held preliminary discussions with Rahman to stabilize ties, he was unable to attend the ceremony in person due to high-profile bilateral commitments with French President Emmanuel Macron and a major AI summit in New Delhi. Represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, India’s participation underscores a pragmatic effort to reset the “enduring friendship” with Dhaka and maintain regional stability under the new administration.
