New Delhi, February 17 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, in Dhaka on Tuesday, and stated that India stands ready to support Bangladesh's efforts to build a democratic, progressive, and inclusive nation.
Separately, the Speaker met with the new Bangladeshi Prime Minister and conveyed the wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He also handed over an invitation from Prime Minister Modi to Rahman to visit India, officials said here.
"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 with 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 polls 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 arriving in 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.