India Appoints Dinesh Trivedi as New High Commissioner to Bangladesh

The 75-year-old leader from West Bengal has had a long political career. He previously served as India’s Railway Minister and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, representing the All India Trinamool Congress. In 2021, he left the Trinamool Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Trivedi’s appointment is currently awaiting approval from the Bangladesh government. If confirmed, he will replace career diplomat Pranay Verma, who has been appointed as India’s ambassador to the European Union in Brussels.

India-Bangladesh relations experienced strain following the political transition in Dhaka after the fall of the government led by Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, amid a mass uprising. During the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, ties between the two countries reportedly cooled.

However, relations have begun to normalize following the formation of a new government in Bangladesh under the leadership of Tarique Rahman. At this juncture, the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has moved to appoint Trivedi as its envoy to Dhaka, signaling a potential effort to strengthen bilateral ties.