Overview
- Tarique Rahman is slated to be sworn in on February 17 at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, with preparations handled under constitutional procedures.
- Interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus has invited leaders from 13 countries, including India, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan.
- India has received an invitation; Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Rahman, and reports indicate Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri are expected to represent India as a decision on Modi’s travel remains unannounced.
- The BNP says foreign policy will be guided by Bangladesh’s interests and a balanced approach to neighbors, echoing its ‘friends to all, malice to none’ formulation.
- BNP leaders say they will pursue Sheikh Hasina’s return through legal and diplomatic channels, with Rahman noting any extradition request will proceed according to due process.