PM Modi invites Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman to visit India, pledges closer ties
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended a formal invitation to newly sworn-in Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India at a mutually convenient time, conveying his best wishes for Rahman’s success in office.
In a letter sent on Tuesday, Modi congratulated Rahman on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) victory in the recent parliamentary elections and his appointment as Prime Minister. He expressed confidence that Rahman’s leadership would steer Bangladesh towards “peace, stability and prosperity.”
“I take this opportunity to invite you, along with Dr Zubaida Rahman and your daughter Zaima, on a visit to India at a mutually convenient time. A warm welcome awaits you in India,” Modi wrote. He also wished Rahman “good health and success” and prosperity for the people of Bangladesh.
Highlighting the enduring partnership between the two neighbours, Modi emphasised that India and Bangladesh share a “deep-rooted friendship founded on shared history, cultural ties, and the aspirations of our peoples for peace and prosperity.” He noted that the convergence of developmental priorities would guide future cooperation.
The Prime Minister said he looked forward to working closely with Rahman to further strengthen bilateral ties and regional collaboration. He identified key areas of engagement, including connectivity, trade, technology, education, skills development, energy, healthcare, and cultural exchanges.
“As two fast-growing economies and aspiring societies, India and Bangladesh can truly become catalysts for each other’s sustainable growth, work for each other’s security and enable mutual prosperity,” the letter stated.
Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh Prime Minister earlier in the day, marking the BNP’s return to power after nearly two decades. The oath of office was administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building in Dhaka.
The BNP-led alliance secured a decisive mandate in the February 12 elections, winning 212 seats in the 300-member parliament. India was represented at the ceremony by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, underlining the importance New Delhi attaches to the political transition in Dhaka.