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India has appointed seasoned politician Dinesh Trivedi as its new high commissioner to Bangladesh, marking a rare instance of selecting a non-foreign service officer for the role. This move reflects New Delhi’s effort to mend and strengthen diplomatic ties with its eastern neighbor.
Relations between India and Bangladesh suffered after a popular uprising in 2024 led to Bangladesh’s longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing to New Delhi, where she remains. Trivedi’s appointment underscores India’s focus on rebuilding trust and influence in Bangladesh amid fierce competition from China for regional and economic dominance.
At 75, Trivedi is a former minister of railways and health. He joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in 2021, transitioning from a regional party in West Bengal—a crucial border state that influences India-Bangladesh relations. Modi has been actively working to expand his party’s footprint in West Bengal through local elections.
The Indian government indicated that Trivedi would assume his diplomatic responsibilities soon. Tensions began easing after the February election brought Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to power, replacing an interim government that had leaned strongly towards China.
Recently, Bangladesh’s foreign minister visited New Delhi to discuss increasing fuel and fertilizer supplies, boosting energy collaboration, and relaxing travel restrictions. However, a major sticking point remains India’s refusal to extradite Sheikh Hasina, continuing the complexity of bilateral relations.
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