President Dr Mohamed Muizzu departed on Monday evening for an official visit to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

According to the President’s Office, the visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the country’s new administration.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place on 17 February 2026 in the capital, Dhaka.

The visit, which runs from 16 to 18 February, will also see President Muizzu meet with the newly elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman.

Bangladesh’s recent general election resulted in a decisive victory for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which secured 209 out of 300 parliamentary seats.

The poll marked the first national election held since the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office in 2024.

Tarique Rahman, who leads the BNP, is expected to formally assume office as Prime Minister following Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony.

Several countries are reported to have received invitations to attend the event, including China, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.

Diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Bangladesh were established on 22 September 1978, and the two countries have maintained close ties across various sectors over the decades.