Bangladesh Invites neighbouring countries including Indian PM Modi for Rahman Swearing-In
New Delhi, Feb 15, KNT: Bangladesh has formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief Tarique Rahman on February 17, following the BNP’s decisive victory in parliamentary elections.
Official sources indicated that Mr. Modi is unlikely to travel to Dhaka due to prior commitments. He is scheduled to be in Mumbai for bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the same day and will subsequently chair the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit in New Delhi.
Sources said that in place of the Prime Minister, India may depute a senior representative. Names under consideration include a Union Minister or a constitutional functionary such as Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan or Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
The invitation was conveyed through diplomatic channels on February 14 by Bangladesh’s Interim advisor Muhammad Yunus. The development came a day after Mr. Modi and Mr. Rahman held a telephone conversation following the election results, which handed the BNP a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Bangladesh media reports suggest that leaders of at least 12 other countries have been invited, including SAARC member states Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Invitations have also reportedly been extended to China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia and Brunei. [KNT]
