The Government of India will be represented by Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s newly elected government led by Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on February 17, 2026, according to an official press release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The ceremony will mark the assumption of office by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson as the leader of the new government following the BNP’s decisive victory in the national elections. President Mohammed Shahabuddin is expected to administer the oath to the new Prime Minister and cabinet members at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) complex.
The MEA statement states that Om Birla’s participation underscores the “deep and enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh, reaffirming India’s steadfast commitment to the democratic values that bind our two nations”.
MEA added in the statement, “As neighbours united by a shared history, culture, and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh’s transition to an elected government under the leadership of H.E. Mr. Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people. “
In addition to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will accompany the delegation to represent India at the event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had been invited along with other regional leaders, will not attend due to prior commitments, including a scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to Bangladesh media reports, the interim government has invited leaders of 13 nations to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government, including India, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and others in the region.
The newly election MPs of Bangladesh will take oath in the morning on Tuesday, and the new government will take oath in the afternoon on the same day. The oath of the new MPs will be administered by the Chief Election Commissioner. Notably, as per Bangladesh constitution, new oath of new MPs is administered by the speaker or deputy speaker of the previous house. But at present, the speaker of the 12th parliament is missing, and the deputy speaker is in jail, therefore it will be done by the CEC.
After the new MPs take oath, BNP MPs will elect Rahman as their leader of the parliamentary team, after which the new PM and ministers will take oath at 4 PM at the national parliament building.
