Foreign dignitaries from across South Asia are set to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh’s new government led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, signalling regional engagement with Dhaka’s incoming administration.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Monday night to attend the ceremony. According to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit reflects Kathmandu’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation with Bangladesh.
He is expected to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:15pm on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Kathmandu, accompanied by senior officials, and will return home on February 19.
Earlier, Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki congratulated Tarique Rahman on his party’s victory in the 13th parliamentary elections, expressing interest in deepening neighbourly cooperation.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health and Media Nalinda Jayatissa will also represent Colombo at the oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet on Tuesday.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andalib Elias saw him off at Colombo airport on Monday morning, according to officials in Dhaka.
Pakistan Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal will attend the oath-taking ceremony. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif could not make it due to his ongoing official visit to Austria.
However, he plans to visit Bangladesh soon after returning home.
Indian Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will attend the ceremony in Dhaka, which will take place at the South Plaza of parliament.
Meanwhile, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Tuesday to attend the ceremony.
Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel will accompany the president, with a senior official confirming that the foreign minister is arriving earlier on Monday.
Dr Muizzu, the eighth president of the Republic of Maldives, had earlier congratulated Tarique Rahman on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s decisive victory in the February 12 national parliamentary elections.
Extending warm regards to the new leadership and the people of Bangladesh, the Maldivian president expressed optimism about future cooperation.
“I look forward to working closely together to further advance and deepen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the Maldives and Bangladesh,” he said.
“I am confident that our partnership will continue to grow in scope and strength in the years ahead.”
The participation of senior leaders and representatives from Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives is being viewed as a significant diplomatic gesture, reflecting continued regional interest in strengthening ties with Bangladesh under its new government.
