Om Birla to attend Tarique Rahman's swearing in ceremony in Bangladesh

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will attend the swearing in ceremony of Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh Prime Minister-elect and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief, in Dhaka on February 17 (Tuesday), said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement on Sunday. He will likely be accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

The MEA said Birla's participation underscores the deep and enduring friendship that is there between India and Bangladesh. "As neighbours united by a shared history, culture, and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh's transition to an elected



government under the leadership of H.E. Mr. Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people," it said.

The development comes after Bangladesh extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend Rahman's oath-taking ceremony. According to the BNP, several other leaders from the region have also been invited for the ceremony, which will be organised in Dhaka on February 17. The party said it has send invitations to China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan.