Om Birla to attend swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh government in place of Narendra Modi
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): After the results of the 13th National Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh were announced, preparations for the formation of a new government are now in full swing. The swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet is going to be held in Dhaka on February 17th. The interim government of Bangladesh has invited the heads of state of 13 countries for this historic occasion. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also sent a special invitation to this ceremony, but the Ministry of External Affairs has informed that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will officially represent India in this important event instead of the Prime Minister.
The Ministry of External Affairs clarified India's stand
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a press release stating that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on February 17, 2026. The Ministry emphasized in its statement that India's high-level presence at the event reflects the deep and unwavering friendship between the people of the two countries. As a close neighbor with a shared history and culture, India warmly welcomed the newly elected government led by Tarique Rahman and reiterated its commitment to democratic values.
13 countries including Pakistan and China were invited to the ceremony.
Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh, has invited heads of state from 13 countries globally for this grand swearing-in ceremony. These countries include India, China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan. As per the schedule, all the newly elected MPs will take the oath of office on the morning of February 17th. Following this, the new cabinet will be formally formed that evening, and Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the new government.
Preparations for swearing-in ceremony at Parliament House in final stages
According to a report in Bangladesh's prestigious newspaper, Prothom Alo, sources in the interim government office, the Law Ministry, and the BNP have confirmed preparations for the swearing-in ceremony. Extensive and grand arrangements are being made for the ceremony in the designated oath-taking room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Voting for the 13th parliamentary election in Bangladesh concluded on February 12th for 299 out of 300 seats. The Election Commission has declared unofficial results for 297 of these seats and has also issued official notifications of the winning candidates. However, due to a High Court directive, gazette notifications for the Chittagong-2 and Chittagong-4 seats have been withheld.