Prime Minister unable to attend as he will host French President Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday, chair AI summit in Delhi this week, say officials.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in of Tarique Rahman as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Sunday (February 15, 2026).
Tarique Rahman: A striking political debut in Bangladesh’s history
An invitation to the February 17 ceremony was sent by Bangladesh’s interim advisor Muhammad Yunus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, a day after Mr. Modi and Mr. Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief, spoke over the telephone. However, citing the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Mumbai that day, and the Artificial Intelligence Summit in Delhi this week, Mr. Modi declined the invitation. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials are expected to accompany Mr. Birla.
“Enduring friendship”
In a statement, the MEA said that Mr. Birla’s participation “underscores the deep and enduring friendship” between India and Bangladesh, and reaffirms “India’s steadfast commitment to the democratic values that bind our two nations”. Mr. Birla’s nomination is significant as the Opposition has submitted a no-confidence motion against him, and he has not been attending Parliament until it is disposed of. However, Parliament is in recess until March 9.
Leaders of at least 12 other countries have been invited, including SAARC members Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, as well as China, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia and Brunei. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay are also expected to travel to Delhi for the AI Summit, and officials said it was unclear who would represent them in Dhaka.
Mr. Rahman’s party won the first general election in Bangladesh since the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, sweeping 209 of 297 elected seats. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin is likely to administer the oath of office to the newly elected Members of Parliament at 10 am on Tuesday. Later in the day, at 4 pm, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath of office to the BNP chief and his Cabinet.
First male PM in decades
Mr. Rahman will become the first male Prime Minister of Bangladesh in decades, following his mother Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female PM, who died in December 2025. His father, Gen Ziaur Rahman, took power in 1975 and became Bangladesh’s President, before he was assassinated in 1981.
“As neighbours united by a shared history, culture, and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh’s transition to an elected government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people,” the MEA said in its statement.
Speaking to The Hindu on Saturday, BNP Foreign Affairs Advisor Humaiun Kobir said that all “regional leaders” would be invited to the swearing-in ceremony.
Mr. Macron will arrive in India on February 16 and hold talks with Mr. Modi on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. The two leaders will then fly to Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit.
Om Birla to represent India, as PM Modi declines Yunus invite to swearing-in ceremony for Tarique Rahman
Prime Minister unable to attend as he will host French President Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday, chair AI summit in Delhi this week, say officials.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in of Tarique Rahman as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Sunday (February 15, 2026).
Tarique Rahman: A striking political debut in Bangladesh’s history
An invitation to the February 17 ceremony was sent by Bangladesh’s interim advisor Muhammad Yunus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, a day after Mr. Modi and Mr. Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief, spoke over the telephone. However, citing the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Mumbai that day, and the Artificial Intelligence Summit in Delhi this week, Mr. Modi declined the invitation. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials are expected to accompany Mr. Birla.
“Enduring friendship”
In a statement, the MEA said that Mr. Birla’s participation “underscores the deep and enduring friendship” between India and Bangladesh, and reaffirms “India’s steadfast commitment to the democratic values that bind our two nations”. Mr. Birla’s nomination is significant as the Opposition has submitted a no-confidence motion against him, and he has not been attending Parliament until it is disposed of. However, Parliament is in recess until March 9.
Leaders of at least 12 other countries have been invited, including SAARC members Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, as well as China, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia and Brunei. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay are also expected to travel to Delhi for the AI Summit, and officials said it was unclear who would represent them in Dhaka.
Mr. Rahman’s party won the first general election in Bangladesh since the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, sweeping 209 of 297 elected seats. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin is likely to administer the oath of office to the newly elected Members of Parliament at 10 am on Tuesday. Later in the day, at 4 pm, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath of office to the BNP chief and his Cabinet.
First male PM in decades
Mr. Rahman will become the first male Prime Minister of Bangladesh in decades, following his mother Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female PM, who died in December 2025. His father, Gen Ziaur Rahman, took power in 1975 and became Bangladesh’s President, before he was assassinated in 1981.
“As neighbours united by a shared history, culture, and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh’s transition to an elected government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people,” the MEA said in its statement.
Speaking to The Hindu on Saturday, BNP Foreign Affairs Advisor Humaiun Kobir said that all “regional leaders” would be invited to the swearing-in ceremony.
Mr. Macron will arrive in India on February 16 and hold talks with Mr. Modi on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. The two leaders will then fly to Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit.
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