Tuesday marked a key diplomatic engagement as India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla touched down in Dhaka to stand for India at the swearing-in of Tarique Rahman, BNP chairman, as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister. The ceremony is a cornerstone event in the country’s democratic journey.
Leaders worldwide are flocking to the invitation by Chief Adviser Yunus. Maldives’ President Mohamed Muizzu was among the early arrivals, received at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by interim Foreign Adviser M Touhid Hossain, per The Daily Star.
New Delhi’s Foreign Ministry articulated the visit’s significance: Birla’s role ’embodies the lasting friendship between Indians and Bangladeshis, solidifying India’s commitment to the democratic principles that connect us.’ It extended a warm welcome to Rahman’s government, praised for its people-backed vision amid shared cultural bonds.
High-profile attendees include Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and foreign ministers from Nepal and Sri Lanka. Broader invites targeted PMs Modi, Sharif, and Ibrahim, with Pakistan sending Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and the UK dispatching Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra.
Twenty-five BNP ministers will form the core of the new cabinet: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Hafizuddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, Abu Zafar MD Jahid Hossain, Abdul Awal Mintu, Kazi Shah Moazzem Hossain Kakobad, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Khondkar Abdul Muktidir, and several more like Ariful Haq Chowdhury and Zahiruddin Swapn.
As Bangladesh transitions to this new era, Birla’s presence underscores India’s supportive stance, promising deeper collaboration on regional issues. The international turnout bodes well for stability, economic growth, and strengthened South Asian ties.