Foreign dignitaries, including Indian Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, foreign ministers of the countries under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, are expected to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new government scheduled for Tuesday in Dhaka.
Indian Lok Sahba speaker Om Birla will represent the Government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government of Bangladesh led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman, said the external affairs ministry of India on Sunday.
‘The Hon’ble Speaker’s participation at this important event underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh, reaffirming India’s steadfast commitment to the democratic values that bind our two nations,’ said a press release of the external affairs ministry issued in New Delhi.
As neighbours united by a shared history, culture, and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh’s transition to an elected government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people, it mentioned.
Meanwhile, law adviser Asif Nazrul on Sunday said, ‘The cabinet oath-taking ceremony will be held at the South Plaza at 4:00pm. As far as I know, the President is scheduled to administer the oath.’
Asked about invitees, he said that those customarily invited under convention would be included and the cabinet division was handling the matter.
‘What I have heard so far is that the ministry of foreign affairs has informed the foreign ministers of SAARC countries. I have no information about any prime minister attending,’ the law adviser told reporters at the secretariat.
The oath-taking ceremony of the lawmakers will be held at the South Plaza of the National Assembly Building at 10:00am while the swearing-in event of the cabinet members will take place at the same venue at 4:00pm.
The BNP won an absolute majority in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections, held on Thursday alongside a referendum, enabling the party to form the next government.
International communities including India, China, the United States and the United Kingdom have already congratulated BNP and its leader Tarique Rahman on his party’s decisive victory in the parliamentary polls.
