Dinesh Trivedi named Bangladesh High Commissioner. Why did India pick a politician for Dhaka?

India has moved to appoint veteran politician Dinesh Trivedi as its next High Commissioner to Bangladesh as New Delhi attempts to recalibrate ties with Dhaka.

The Ministry of External Affairs announced the decision on Monday, stating that “He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.”

The development comes at a time when bilateral relations are showing signs of recovery after a phase of strain that followed the dramatic political changes in Bangladesh in 2024.

Why this is a rare nomination to Dhaka

India’s choice of Trivedi stands out in the context of its diplomatic traditions. Bangladesh has long been regarded as a critical posting within India’s foreign policy framework, typically entrusted to experienced officers of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

Many diplomats who have served in Dhaka have later gone on to hold top positions, including that of Foreign Secretary or key ambassadorial roles in major global capitals.

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Against this backdrop, the decision to nominate a politician rather than a career diplomat marks a departure from established practice. In fact, this is the first time in more than three decades that India has proposed a political figure for such a role in its immediate neighbourhood.

While there have been a handful of political or non-IFS appointments under the current government — such as former CBI Director RK Raghavan being sent to Cyprus and former Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag to Seychelles — these have largely been outside the core South Asian theatre.

Even within the broader diplomatic landscape, political appointees have typically been reserved for high-profile missions like Washington or London.

Currently, India has only one such political appointment among its envoys, with former Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra serving as ambassador to the United States after retiring from the IFS.

The decision to send Trivedi to Dhaka, therefore, carries particular weight, given the sensitivity and complexity of India-Bangladesh relations.

Trivedi will succeed Pranay Verma, a 1994-batch IFS officer who has been reassigned as India’s envoy to Brussels. His name has already been forwarded to Dhaka for agrément, and an official confirmation will follow once Bangladesh conveys its approval.

Why now? A relationship in transition

Relations between India and Bangladesh experienced a downturn following the 2024 uprising that led to the ouster of long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina subsequently fled to New Delhi, where she continues to reside.

Her departure marked the end of a period during which India had cultivated close ties with the ruling establishment in Dhaka, resulting in cooperation across a range of sectors including security, connectivity, and trade.

In the immediate aftermath, an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge. During this phase, relations between the two countries deteriorated significantly, with Bangladesh reportedly adopting positions that leaned more towards China.

The situation began to shift after elections held roughly 18 months after Hasina’s ouster brought the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to power under Tarique Rahman.

This political transition opened a new avenue for engagement, prompting India to initiate a series of diplomatic outreach efforts aimed at rebuilding ties with the new leadership in Dhaka.

India’s engagement with the BNP leadership has included high-level gestures. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the funeral of Rahman’s mother and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, signalling respect and willingness to engage.

Senior Indian officials, including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, were present at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended a formal invitation to Tarique Rahman to visit New Delhi.

This renewed engagement has already led to diplomatic exchanges. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman visited New Delhi earlier this month for a two-day trip — the first ministerial-level visit since the BNP returned to power.

During the visit, Dhaka raised several issues, including requests for increased supplies of diesel and fertiliser, enhanced energy cooperation, and easing of travel restrictions.

One of the more contentious issues discussed was the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

While this remains unresolved, both sides agreed on cooperation in other areas, including the extradition of individuals accused in the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, who had been detained in West Bengal.

Additionally, Jaishankar indicated that India would facilitate visas for Bangladeshis, particularly for medical and business purposes.

Why India needed to pivot

India and Bangladesh share a deeply intertwined history. Bangladesh was part of undivided India during the colonial era before becoming East Pakistan following the partition of British India in 1947.

The relationship took a decisive turn in 1971, when India played a key role in supporting Bangladesh’s liberation from Pakistan.

In the decades that followed, the relationship has experienced both cooperation and friction.

For a significant period, India’s Bangladesh policy relied heavily on its close association with Sheikh Hasina’s government. This alignment yielded tangible benefits, including collaboration on counter-insurgency efforts in India’s northeastern states, access to Bangladeshi ports, improved connectivity, and power-sharing arrangements.

However, the events of 2024 exposed the limitations of a strategy centred predominantly on one political leadership. The sudden change in Dhaka’s political landscape highlighted the need for a more diversified approach that engages multiple stakeholders within Bangladesh’s political and social spectrum.

There has also been a perceptible shift within Bangladesh itself. Younger generations, who do not have a direct memory of the 1971 Liberation War, are less influenced by historical ties and more focused on issues of sovereignty and national interest. This has contributed to a more complex environment for India’s diplomacy in the country.

Who is Dinesh Trivedi

Dinesh Trivedi’s political career spans more than three decades and cuts across multiple parties and roles. Born on June 4, 1950, he has been an active participant in India’s parliamentary and political life since the late 20th century.

He has served in both Houses of Parliament. As a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, he represented the Barrackpore constituency in West Bengal from 2009 to 2019.

Prior to that, he held positions in the Rajya Sabha during multiple terms, including from 1990 to 1996 and again from 2002 to 2008. He later returned to the Rajya Sabha representing Gujarat.

Trivedi held key ministerial positions in the Union government led by Manmohan Singh. He served as Minister for Railways and also as Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

His tenure as Railway Minister in 2011-12 is particularly noteworthy. During this period, he presented a railway budget that proposed an increase in passenger fares, aiming to address financial challenges and invest in safety and modernisation. The move, however, faced opposition within his party at the time, leading to his resignation.

Trivedi’s political journey has included associations with several parties. He was initially linked with VP Singh’s political movement and later became a prominent figure in the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), founded by Mamata Banerjee.

He played a key organisational role in the party’s early years, serving as its first general secretary and acting as a bridge between the TMC and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Within the TMC, Trivedi was regarded as one of the party’s national-level leaders and was known for his parliamentary approach and emphasis on policy issues. However, his relationship with the party leadership evolved over time, culminating in his resignation in February 2021.

He subsequently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in March of the same year.

Trivedi has also maintained long-standing connections with senior figures in the BJP and the broader alliance, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

His political positions have often aligned with key BJP concerns, including issues related to border management and illegal migration, which he had raised in Parliament as early as 2011.

In addition to his political roles, Trivedi has been recognised for his contributions to parliamentary work.

He received the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for the 2016-17 period and has been associated with various parliamentary forums, including serving as chairman of the Indo-European Union Parliamentary Forum.

Why Trivedi? A political approach to diplomacy

Unlike career diplomats, whose training focuses on maintaining continuity and managing formal state-to-state interactions, a seasoned politician brings a different set of skills.

These include experience in navigating complex political environments, engaging with multiple stakeholders, and responding to rapidly shifting dynamics.

Trivedi’s background in West Bengal politics is particularly relevant in this context. West Bengal shares a long border with Bangladesh and plays a crucial role in shaping India’s interactions with its eastern neighbour.

His familiarity with the region’s linguistic and cultural landscape, including his reported knowledge of Bengali, may aid in building connections within Bangladesh.

His experience in coalition politics and his ability to operate across party lines could also prove valuable in engaging with Bangladesh’s diverse political spectrum. Trivedi's long-standing relationships within India’s political establishment may enable him to communicate more directly with decision-makers in New Delhi.

Also, in recent years, China has expanded its presence in Bangladesh through investments in infrastructure, financing projects, and defence cooperation. As Dhaka seeks to diversify its external partnerships, India faces increasing competition in maintaining its influence.

The appointment of a politically experienced envoy could be seen as an effort by India to respond to this challenge by adopting a more flexible and dynamic approach.

What challenges lie ahead

Despite the opportunity for renewed engagement, India-Bangladesh relations continue to face several challenges.

These include managing a long and densely populated border, addressing disputes over river water sharing, balancing trade relations, and navigating issues related to migration and security.

The asymmetry between the two countries — one an emerging superpower and the other a smaller neighbour — often requiring careful handling to avoid perceptions of imbalance or pressure.

The issue of Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India remains a sensitive point, particularly in the context of Bangladesh’s domestic politics. While both sides have shown willingness to cooperate on other matters, this issue continues to be a sticking point.

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With inputs from agencies