New Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India and conveyed his best wishes to the newly sworn-in Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader.
The invitation was extended to Rahman through a letter handed over by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who called on Rahman in Dhaka after the latter took charge as the prime minister on Tuesday, officials said here.
After attending the swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka, Birla said India stands ready to support Bangladesh's endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation.
“Glad to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka today. India stands ready to support Bangladesh’s endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation,” Birla posted on X.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said in a post on X, “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conveys his greetings to India and PM Narendra Modi to the visiting India Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at a courtesy meet following the swearing-in of the new government.
"Speaker Birla conveyed wishes and an invitation to India. Both leaders expressed optimism to work together for the well-being of the people of Bangladesh and India, pursuing a people-centric menu of cooperation.”
Birla also met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and other leaders on the sidelines of the event.
Led by Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) swept to power with a two-thirds majority with 49.97 per cent votes and 209 seats in the polls held on February 12, results for which were declared on February 13.
The Jamaat-e-Islami, which was opposed to Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, registered its best-ever performance with 31.76 per cent votes and 68 seats.
The National Citizen Party (NCP) secured the third-highest number of seats, six, and 3.05 per cent votes.
Bangladesh had invited Narendra Modi to 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.
On reaching Dhaka, 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.
“Honoured to be in Dhaka representing India at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Tarique Rahman as the prime minister. It's an important moment that will strengthen people-to-people ties and shared democratic values between our two nations,” Birla said.
Birla was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials.
Dhaka | Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday met Tarique Rahman shortly after the BNP leader was sworn in as Bangladesh's Prime Minister and handed over a congratulatory letter from his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, officials said.
Birla, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, represented India at the oath ceremony of Rahman held at the open space of the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad in the presence of Bangladesh's top political and military brass.
"Birla met the new prime minister shortly after the swearing-in ceremony at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban,” Rahman’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told PTI.
He said the Indian Speaker handed over to the new Bangladesh leader a congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Modi.
Shibly said they held talks for nearly 20 minutes during which Birla greeted Rahman and expected Delhi-Dhaka ties under his new government would grow further.
Both leaders expressed optimism about working together for the well-being of the people of the two countries, pursuing a people-centric menu of cooperation, Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said in a post on X.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka issued the text of Modi’s letter in which he told Rahman that his victory was a “testimony to the trust and confidence reposed by the people of Bangladesh in your leadership and their mandate for your vision to take the country forward on the path of peace, stability and prosperity”.
“I look forward to working with you to strengthen our multifaceted bilateral relations, enhance regional cooperation and advance our common goals in wide-ranging areas of connectivity, trade, technology, education, skill development, energy, healthcare, as well as culture and people-to-people exchanges”.
Modi also extended an invitation to Rahman to visit India along with his wife, Zubaida Rahman, and daughter, Zaima, at a mutually convenient time.
He had congratulated Rahman soon after the Bangladesh election results last week.
Birla's presence at the ceremony came as Dhaka and New Delhi are looking at rebuilding their ties that came under severe strain under Muhammad Yunus's interim government.