Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal departed Islamabad on Monday to represent Pakistan at the oath‑taking ceremony of Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on February 17.
The planning ministry confirmed that Iqbal will attend the high‑profile event in place of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on an official foreign visit and unable to participate in the ceremony.
During his visit, Iqbal is also scheduled to hold meetings with senior Bangladeshi officials to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral ties, particularly in political, economic and trade sectors, according to ministry sources.
The swearing‑in follows a decisive victory by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the recent general elections, in which the party secured an overwhelming parliamentary majority. Tarique Rahman, the BNP chairman, is poised to assume office after the oath ceremony on Tuesday.
Invitations to the ceremony have been extended to heads of governments from South Asia and beyond, including leaders from China, Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey and Malaysia, reflecting broad diplomatic engagement in the regional transition.