NEW DELHI: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) may invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other regional leaders, to the swearing-in of its leader, Tarique Rahman, after the party’s resounding victory in the Bangladesh national elections, news reports said on Saturday. Rahman is likely to take the oath as Bangladesh’s prime minister next week.
Humayun Kabir, foreign policy advisor to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, told WION that PM Modi might be invited to the oath-taking, signalling a potential thaw in strained bilateral ties between the two neighbouring nations. He noted that Modi has already congratulated Rahman on sweeping the elections.
“Region is important to us. An important part of Tarique Rahman’s foreign policy. Making this region an influential region. Sense of priority in sending out invitations for the inauguration. Time frame is short, gesture is there,” Kabir said.
There is no official confirmation yet from theGovernment of India or the interim Government of Bangladesh about Modi’s attendance at the swearing-in.
Kabir described the invitation as a goodwill gesture aimed at fostering better relations. “You give an invitation for people to attend, you will have expectations that you attend. A goodwill gesture…”
If the invitation is formally sent and accepted, Modi’s presence at the ceremony would mark an important moment in India-Bangladesh relations under the new political leadership in Dhaka.
New Delhi has already signalled its desire to engage with the new leadership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally congratulated Rahman for his “decisive” victory in a post on X and indicated a desire to “strengthen our multifaceted relations and advance our common development goals.” Modi later spoke with Rahman on the phone, too.
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