In this photo released on Feb. 17, 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla greets newly sworn-in Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during a meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photo: @hamidullah_riaz/X via PTI Photo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India and conveyed his best wishes to the newly-minted leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The invitation was extended to Mr Rahman through a letter handed over by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who called on Rahman in Dhaka after he assumed office as Prime Minister on Tuesday (February 17, 2026), officials said.
After attending the swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka, Mr Birla said India was ready to support Bangladesh’s efforts to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation.
“I am happy to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bangladesh government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka today. India stands ready to support Bangladesh’s efforts to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation,” Birla wrote on X.
In a post on X, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah said: “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conveys his greetings to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Indian Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in a courtesy call after the swearing in of the new government.
“Chairman Birla extended his wishes and invitation to India. The two leaders expressed optimism to work together for the welfare of the people of Bangladesh and India and sought a people-centric offering of cooperation.” Mr. Birla also met Maldives President Mohamed Muizza, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and other leaders on the sidelines of the event.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Mr Rahman swept to power with a two-thirds majority with 49.97% of the vote and 209 seats in the polls held on 12 February and the results announced on 13 February.
Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971, recorded its best ever performance with 31.76 percent of the vote and 68 seats.
The National Citizen Party (NCP) won the third highest number of seats, six and 3.05 percent of the vote.
Bangladesh invited Narendra Modi for the ceremony, but the prime minister could not attend the event as he was scheduled to hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday (February 17, 2026).
Arriving in Dhaka, Mr Birla said the swearing-in of Rahman was an important moment that would strengthen people-to-people relations and shared democratic values between the two neighbours.
“It is an honor to be in Dhaka to represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Tariq Rahman as Prime Minister. It is an important moment that will strengthen people-to-people ties and shared democratic values between our two nations,” Birla said.
Mr. Birla was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials.
Published – 17 Feb 2026 20:25 IST