President meets Bangladesh’s new prime minister, expresses hope for deeper bilateral cooperation

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has expressed confidence that relations between the Maldives and Bangladesh will further strengthen under the new government led by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Tarique, the son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, was sworn in as prime minister on Tuesday, the first man to hold the post in Bangladesh in 35 years.

President Muizzu arrived in Dhaka on Monday to attend the swearing‑in ceremony. His three‑day visit was made at the invitation of Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Mohamed Yunus.

Following the ceremony, President Muizzu met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and conveyed his congratulations and best wishes to him and the new government.

It has been a pleasure to witness the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister HE Tarique Rahman @trahmanbnp and the Government of @bdbnp78 in Dhaka today. I also had a fruitful meeting with Prime Minister Rahman and conveyed my best wishes to him and the new Government. I look… pic.twitter.com/0Dk9rSPX7z

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) February 17, 2026

“[With the new government], I hope that the close friendship between Maldives and Bangladesh will be further strengthened,” the President said in a post shared after the meeting.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) coalition secured a two‑thirds majority in the country’s 300‑seat parliament, winning 208 seats. Jamiat‑ul‑Islam won 68 seats, while other parties secured six.

Diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Bangladesh were established on 22 September 1978.