New delhi: India has appointed Dinesh Trivedi as the next High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment, noting that Trivedi is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the 75-year-old veteran politician and former Union Minister will replace career diplomat Pranay Verma. Verma is set to move to Brussels as the Indian Ambassador to the European Union (EU) and the Kingdom of Belgium. Verma, who previously served as Ambassador of India to Vietnam, arrived in Dhaka on September 21, 2022, to take up his role as High Commissioner to Bangladesh.
The appointment of Dinesh Trivedi marks a significant shift as India sends a political appointee to the neighborhood after a long period. Earlier, Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJP’s National Information and Technology Department and co-incharge West Bengal, congratulated Trivedi on his new role.
Trivedi’s political career includes serving as the Union Minister for Railways and as the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare during the UPA regime. He was a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) before resigning on February 12, 2021, and subsequently joining the BJP on March 6, 2021.