New Delhi, Feb. 16 -- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in of Bangladesh's prime minister-designate Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on February 17, the external affairs ministry announced on Sunday. Bangladesh had on Saturday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh's newly elected government, though he will be unable to attend as he is set to receive French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on February 17, people familiar with the matter said. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Lok Sabha secretary general Utpal Singh are set to accompany Birla to Dhaka, the people said. This is the first time that a group of foreign leaders has been invited to the inauguration of a new government in Bangladesh, a practice started in South Asia by Modi. India is being represented by the Lok Sabha Speaker as he, along with the Supreme Court Chief Justice, comes after the PM in the official order of precedence. The Speaker's participation "underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the people of India and Bangladesh...", the external affairs ministry said. P8...