Om Birla to Represent India at Tarique Rahman’s Oath Ceremony as Bangladesh PM; PM Modi Engaged in Macron Meeting

New Delhi: Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, official sources confirmed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be able to attend the ceremony due to prior engagements in Mumbai, where he is scheduled to hold meetings with Emmanuel Macron, the President of France.

High-Level Representation

Government sources said India’s decision to send the Lok Sabha Speaker underscores the importance New Delhi attaches to its bilateral ties with Bangladesh. The move is seen as a gesture of goodwill and continuity in diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring nations.

Om Birla is expected to convey India’s best wishes to the incoming Prime Minister and reaffirm commitments to strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, connectivity, security, and cultural exchange.

Modi’s Scheduled Engagements

Prime Minister Modi’s absence from the Dhaka ceremony is attributed to previously scheduled high-level meetings with President Macron in Mumbai. The discussions between the Indian and French leaders are expected to focus on strategic partnership, defence cooperation, economic collaboration, and global issues.

Officials clarified that the scheduling overlap made it logistically difficult for the Prime Minister to attend the swearing-in in person.

India-Bangladesh Relations

India and Bangladesh share close historical, cultural, and economic ties. Over the years, cooperation has deepened across multiple sectors, including infrastructure development, energy sharing, border management, and regional connectivity initiatives.

Diplomatic observers note that India’s representation at the oath ceremony reflects its intent to maintain strong engagement with Dhaka’s leadership, irrespective of changes in government.

Further details about bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the ceremony are expected to emerge after the event.