Dhaka, Feb. 15 -- Dhaka has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh's prime minister-in-waiting Tarique Rahman in what is being seen as the incoming government's first calculated diplomatic overture.

Diplomatic sources in the region said on Saturday night that invitations had been extended to leaders across South Asia, signalling the first major diplomatic outreach by the BNP leadership to re-engage neighbours after its sweeping electoral victory.

The new government and newly elected members of parliament are scheduled to take their oaths in Dhaka on Feb 17.

According to the sources, the invitations were extended by the outgoing interim government head Muhammad Yunus ahead of the for...