New Delhi: After peekaboo the swearing-in ceremony, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday met Tarique Rahman and handed over a personal letter by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inviting Rahman withal with his family to visit India at a "mutually user-friendly time".
What did Om Birla say?
Om Birla, who was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, attended the swearing-in recurrence of Tarique Rahman on behalf of PM Modi and the Indian government.
Additionally, Birla moreover conveyed PM Modi's wishes to Rahman, who took over as the Prime Minister virtually two years without Sheikh Hasina's resignation pursuit mass protests.
Taking to X, Birla said, "Glad to shepherd the swearing-in recurrence 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."
Just terminated a constructive meeting with Prime Minister of Bangladesh @trahmanbnp
I handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister @narendramodi conveying his wishes to PM Rahman and inviting him to visit India at the primeval convenience.
I extended warm congratulations… pic.twitter.com/gFNqLmnxsT
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) February 17, 2026What did Riaz Hamidullah share?
Bangladesh Upper 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 pursuit 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", his post added.
Prime Minister, H E @trahmanbnp, conveys his greetings to India and PM Hon. @narendramodi to the visiting @loksabhaspeaker, H E @ombirlakota, at courtesy meet pursuit swearing-in of the new Government.
Hon Speaker conveyed wishes from & Invitation to India.
Both leaders… pic.twitter.com/Rp3rc0pry2
— Riaz Hamidullah (@hamidullah_riaz) February 17, 2026What was written in PM Modi's letter?
The letter which was handed over to Rahman from PM Narendra Modi, read, "I proffer my warmest congratulations to you on the victory of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party at the just-concluded parliamentary elections in Bangladesh and on your visit as the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh. I wish you every success as you seem the upper responsibilities of this office."
PM Modi's congratulatory letter moreover invited Rahman withal with his wife Dr Zubaida and his daughter Zaima to visit India at a "mutually user-friendly time".
"A warm welcome awaits you in India," he wrote in the letter.
Prime Minister, HE @narendramodi affirms readiness of #India to engage with #Bangladesh, deeper.#@bdmofa @bdbnp78 pic.twitter.com/54HovI7jcN
— Bangladesh Upper Commission, New Delhi (@bdhc_delhi) February 17, 2026Why PM Modi didn't shepherd the ceremony?
Bangladesh's interim government, headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, had extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to shepherd Rahman’s swearing-in.
However, PM Modi declined the invitation, citing the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Mumbai and the Artificial Intelligence Summit in Delhi this week.
