Om Birla at Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony: India sends message without Modi – what it signals to Bhangladesh | World News

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose not to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh’s newly elected prime minister in Dhaka on February 17. Instead, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla traveled to the Bangladesh capital to represent New Delhi and convey congratulatory messages to the new leadership. What does this mean?

Tariq Rahman’s swearing-in came after the decisive victory of his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the country’s 13th national elections.

Bangladesh had invited Prime Minister Modi to the ceremony, but he did not attend the ceremony due to scheduled meetings, including his meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron. The prime minister’s previous commitment in Mumbai made it difficult for him to travel to Dhaka, officials said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement highlighting that the decision to be represented by the Lok Sabha speaker is a reaffirmation of the strong historical and cultural ties that bind the two neighbours. In the statement, it was stated that India “welcomes Bangladesh’s transition to an elected government” and emphasized the importance given to democratic continuity and common values.

“As neighbors united by a common history, culture and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh’s transition to an elected government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values ​​enjoy overwhelming support from the people,” the MEA said.

Analysts who track South Asia’s diplomatic trends say India’s approach shows strategic caution rather than indifference to political changes in Dhaka. While there have been problems in relations in recent years, especially during the tenure of the previous interim administration led by Nobel laureate Mohammed Yunus, New Delhi has shown interest in improving relations with Bangladesh. Prime Minister Modi’s tweet congratulating Rahman, right after BNP registered a landslide victory and his support for Bangladesh’s democratic process, were seen as pragmatic steps in this direction.

Humayun Kabir, advisor to BNP president Tarique Rahman, also said that Bangladesh wants to revive its ties with India.

The BNP has not historically been seen as closely aligned with New Delhi, especially when compared to the rival party that has ruled Bangladesh for much of the last decade – the Awami League led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. From 2001 to 2006, when the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami government was in power, relations between the two countries were cold and distant.

Former Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty said that the Awami League government was extremely sensitive about India’s relations with the BNP. “This sensitivity was an important reason why direct contact with BNP did not develop as expected,” he explained.

Despite historically tense relations with the BNP, India welcomed Rahman’s latest statements. “Although his ‘Bangladesh first’ policy emphasized national sovereignty, he visibly eschewed the anti-India rhetoric that had marked his earlier years. This change may have led Prime Minister Modi to congratulate Rahman as a ‘future prime minister’, extend his warm wishes and express confidence in his leadership,” he said.

Regional affairs experts argue that India recognized the election results while managing its broader diplomatic agenda by sending the Lok Sabha speaker.

Observers outside India interpreted this move in different ways. Commentators in Dhaka described Om Birla’s presence as a sign of “respect for the democratic process” and a diplomatic signal to ensure stability during the political transition.

Some diplomatic circles see this as India treading carefully, balancing its own geopolitical priorities with respect for Bangladesh’s sovereignty preferences.

Political analysts in South Asia say this period presents opportunities and challenges for both countries. India’s response shows a combination of respect for democratic norms, continued cooperation on common regional concerns, and a realistic assessment of Bangladesh’s policies under Rahman’s leadership.

As both governments move forward, attention now turns to how bilateral dialogue on trade, security and cultural ties will continue, and how the new leadership in Dhaka will influence India’s approach in the coming months and years.