In a significant move, the Narendra Modi‑led Indian government has decided to appoint former Union Minister and Barrackpore lawmaker Dinesh Trivedi as India’s next High Commissioner to Bangladesh.
Dinesh Trivedi, now a BJP leader, will replace career diplomat Pranay Verma, who has been posted to Brussels as India’s ambassador to the European Union, according to Indian media reports.
The appointment marks the first major political posting in the neighbourhood in years. Agreement will be sought from the Tarique Rahman‑led government in Dhaka, but the choice of a 75‑year‑old veteran politician is also seen as a message of accountability to the Ministry of External Affairs’ diplomatic corps, the reports said.
Once a senior Trinamool Congress leader, Dinesh Trivedi served as Union Minister for Railways and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare during the UPA regime. He resigned from the TMC on 12 February 2021 and joined the BJP weeks later on 6 March.
His appointment comes at a sensitive time, as India and Bangladesh attempt to repair ties strained during the tenure of Mohammed Yunus, who became interim chief adviser after the fall of Sheikh Hasina. With both military and police refusing to fire on agitators, Yunus struggled to contain sectarian violence against minorities, leading to a deterioration in bilateral relations.
His posting signals New Delhi’s intent to reset relations with Dhaka and underscores the political weight India is attaching to its engagement with Bangladesh.
