BNP plans to invite Modi, Shehbaz to Tarique's swearing-in, says party leader

The BNP plans to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the upcoming swearing-in of party Chairman Tarique Rahman as the country's new prime minister, following the party's landslide victory in the 13th national parliamentary elections.

In an interview with Indian news channel WION today, BNP Chairman's Foreign Policy Adviser Humayun Kabir confirmed the plan, describing it as a "goodwill gesture" aimed at strengthening regional ties.

Humayun Kabir further said, "Region is important to us. It is an important part of the foreign policy of Tarique Rahman – making this region an influential one. There is a sense of priority in sending out invitations for the inauguration. The time frame is short, but the gesture is there."

He described the invitation as a goodwill gesture aimed at improving relations: "You send invitations for people to attend, you will have expectations that they attend. [It's] a goodwill gesture…"

Humayun added that the new government intends to adopt a balanced approach to regional cooperation and leverage multilateral platforms, including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec).

Besides, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif may be invited as well, alongside heads of government of other Saarc member states may also receive invitations, a top BNP leader told BBC Bangla.

The interim government will organise the swearing-in, but the BNP has suggested its preferences regarding the guest list.

The remarks come amid a wave of international congratulations following the BNP's victory in the 12 February elections, marking a significant political shift after the ousting of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on 5 August 2024.

India Prime Minister Modi has already called Tarique to congratulate him on the "remarkable victory", expressing India's support for a democratic and progressive Bangladesh.

The oath-taking ceremony is expected by Wednesday, with preparations underway for Tarique, son of late Khaleda Zia, to assume office. President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the new cabinet, as per the Constitution, said Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid.

Rashid added that elected MPs will take their oath within three days of the gazette notification, after which the majority party will elect its parliamentary leader.

When asked about the matter, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Distinguished Fellow Mustafizur Rahman told TBS that Bangladesh has a historical relationship with India. In 2011, India granted Bangladesh duty-free access for all products except 25 items, including arms, alcohol and tobacco, from which Bangladesh has benefited.

"We are importing electricity from Nepal using India's grid, and we can also benefit from agreements with India on the use of Nepalese and Bhutanese territory. After China, India is our second-largest source of imports. If we stop importing Indian goods, it will also affect our own country," he said.

He noted that Bangladesh's exports to India currently stand at $1.5 billion in a $700-billion Indian market, down from $2 billion earlier. Bangladesh's Matarbari deep-sea port will not be commercially viable unless it is used regionally by India, Nepal and Bhutan. Similarly, the Padma rail link was established to promote sub-regional connectivity, and ensuring its proper utilisation requires connection with India; otherwise, the Padma rail link will not be viable.

Praising the initiative to invite Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif alongside India's Prime Minister to the new government's swearing-in ceremony, Mustafizur said Bangladesh had played a pioneering role in establishing SAARC, and the new government could take steps to revitalise the organisation.

Former president of the Indo-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry and president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Taskin Ahmed, told TBS that the initiative to invite India's Prime Minister to the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Tarique Rahman is a very positive step.

At a press conference on Saturday, Tarique Rahman said he would build good relations with all countries in the interest of the nation and the economy. In that context, inviting the Prime Minister of India – Bangladesh's second-largest trading partner – is commendable. Even if Narendra Modi does not attend in person, the invitation itself will play an important role in improving bilateral relations.

Former president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Fazlul Haque, also sees the move to invite Narendra Modi as positive.

He told TBS, "Extending the invitation and their honouring it by visiting Bangladesh would help maintain good relations with a neighbour."

"It could also help thaw the ice in the ongoing relationship between Bangladesh and India," he added.

Md Obaydul Haque, associate professor in the Department of International Relations at Dhaka University, told TBS, "This is an important political initiative by the BNP and a message of goodwill. It clearly indicates that the new government formed under the leadership of Tarique Rahman will be interested in normalising relations with India."

He said, "If the heads of state of all South Asian countries, including India and Pakistan, are invited, it could be a positive step toward revitalising regional cooperation."

Referring to the swearing‑in ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first term, he said, "During Modi's first swearing‑in, heads of state from all South Asian countries were invited. At that time, he spoke about the 'Neighbourhood First' policy. But that policy did not last. In fact, since 2016, SAARC has effectively become inactive."

He also commented that it is not realistic to expect that India will make significant concessions toward Bangladesh just because the government changed. In his words, "Even if Modi visits, India generally seeks to safeguard its own interests through pressure."

Md Obaydul Haque added, "In the past, we have taken several positive initiatives and sent messages of goodwill. But those efforts were not long‑lasting. On India's side too, there has not been a visible long‑term response in building mutually strong relations."