Dhaka buzzed with anticipation on Tuesday as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla arrived to represent India at the momentous swearing-in of Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s Tarique Rahman as Prime Minister. This gathering highlights Bangladesh’s political resurgence on the global stage.
Responding to Chief Adviser Yunus’s call, international leaders are assembling. The Daily Star noted Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s arrival, warmly welcomed by Foreign Adviser M Touhid Hossain at the international airport.
India’s MEA statement captured the essence: ‘Speaker Birla’s attendance signifies the deep-rooted amity between our nations and India’s firm pledge to democratic ideals we share.’ It hailed the incoming administration under Rahman for its resounding popular support and alignment with common historical values.
The roster of guests features Bhutan’s Tshering Tobgay, Nepal and Sri Lanka’s foreign ministers, among others. Invites reached PM Modi, Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif, Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim, with confirmations from Pakistan’s Ahsan Iqbal and UK’s Seema Malhotra.
The 25-member BNP cabinet includes stalwarts such as Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Hafizuddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, Abu Zafar MD Jahid Hossain, Abdul Awal Mintu, Kazi Shah Moazzem Hossain Kakobad, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Khondkar Abdul Muktidir, Ariful Haq Chowdhury, Zahiruddin Swapn, Afroza Khanam Rita, and additional names like MD Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Ani and Asadul Habib Dulu.
Birla’s participation reinforces Indo-Bangla solidarity, paving the way for joint initiatives in security, trade, and beyond. With such broad international backing, Tarique Rahman’s government is well-positioned to steer Bangladesh toward prosperity and regional harmony.