Dinesh Trivedi named as envoy to Bangladesh

In a clear signal to Dhaka about its desire to reset bilateral ties, India on Monday named former Union Minister and BJP leader Dinesh Trivedi as its next Ambassador to Bangladesh.

The Ministry of External Affairs said Trivedi is expected to take up the assignment shortly. He will replace Pranay Verma, who was recently appointed as India’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union (EU).

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Tripathi, 75, is the first political appointee to a major neighbouring nation, relations with whom had suffered a major setback after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina Government in August 2024.

The appointment comes at a time when Bangladesh, under a new dispensation led by BNP Tarique Rahman, has also given firm indications of its desire to stabilise ties with New Delhi, notwithstanding differences over certain key issues.

A suave politician, Trivedi has been a votary of strong India-Bangladesh ties. He has been associated with the BJP since 2021 after he quit the Trinamool Congress. Prior to this, he also served in the Janata Dal and the Congress during his over three-decade political career.

Trivedi also represented the Trinamool Congress in the Manmohan Singh Government, serving as Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and later as Railways Minister. Trivedi has been a member of both Houses of Parliament. He is also a recipient of the Outstanding Parliament Award for 2016-17. @⁨Mitali Gautam⁩ publish pls