Dinesh Trivedi Granted Cabinet Minister Rank as India's Envoy to Bangladesh
The Indian government has granted the status equivalent to a Union Cabinet minister to Dinesh Trivedi, the country's newly appointed High Commissioner to Bangladesh, for ceremonial purposes. The decision, outlined in an office memorandum from the Ministry of Home Affairs, is a personal measure and does not alter the official Table of Precedence.
Trivedi, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, became the first politician to serve as India's envoy to Bangladesh after being appointed on April 27. He presented his credentials to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin at the Bangabhaban presidential palace, marking the formal start of his diplomatic assignment.
During the ceremony, a contingent of the President Guard Regiment offered Trivedi a guard of honour. Shortly after, he made his first public appearance at the Indian Visa Centre in Dhaka, where he announced the resumption of travel visas for Bangladeshi nationals. Visa applications will be accepted starting June 28.
Travel visas had been suspended nearly two years ago amid heightened security concerns and deteriorating bilateral ties during the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which took over after a student-led uprising ousted Sheikh Hasina's administration in August 2024.
Trivedi succeeded career diplomat Pranay Kumar Verma, whose four-year tenure saw a significant downturn in India-Bangladesh relations. Trivedi entered Bangladesh through the Benapole-Petrapole land border on June 12.
