New Delhi, February 17 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India and has extended his best wishes to the newly sworn-in leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The invitation was extended to Rahman through a letter handed over by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who met Rahman in Dhaka after the latter took office as prime minister on Tuesday, officials said here.
After attending the swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka, Birla said that India stands ready to support Bangladesh's efforts to build a democratic, progressive, and inclusive nation.
"Glad to attend the swearing-in ceremony 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," Birla posted on X.
Bangladesh High 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 following 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.”
Birla also met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and other leaders on the sidelines of the event.
Led by Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a two-thirds majority with 49.97 per cent votes and 209 seats in the elections held on February 12, with the results declared on February 13.
The Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, registered its best-ever performance with 31.76 per cent votes and 68 seats.
The National Citizen Party (NCP) secured the third-highest number of seats, six, and 3.05 per cent votes.
Bangladesh had invited Narendra Modi to the ceremony, but the prime minister could not attend the event as he was scheduled to hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Upon reaching Dhaka, Birla said that Rahman's swearing-in was an important moment that would strengthen people-to-people relations and shared democratic values between the two neighbours.
"Honoured to be in Dhaka representing India at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Tarique Rahman as the prime minister. It's an important moment that will strengthen people-to-people ties and shared democratic values between our two nations," Birla said.
Birla was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials.