Dinesh Trivedi to present credentials to President

India’s newly appointed High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, is set to formally present his Letter of Credence to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Thursday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development on Sunday, marking a key procedural milestone in the induction of India’s 16th High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

A Letter of Credence is a formal diplomatic document issued by a head of state to another, authorising an envoy to act as the official representative of their country. In practical terms, its presentation marks the final stage in the appointment process, after which a diplomat is formally recognised by the host state and begins full diplomatic duties.

Diplomatic sources said Trivedi has already completed preliminary protocol engagements in Dhaka ahead of the credential ceremony. On Saturday afternoon, he met the Chief of Protocol, AFM Zahidul Islam, where he formally submitted a copy of his Letter of Credence. Later the same day, he paid a courtesy call on Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam in keeping with standard diplomatic practice before presenting credentials to the Head of State.

Trivedi, a former Union Railway Minister and former Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare in India, was appointed in April as India’s 16th High Commissioner to Bangladesh. His appointment is notable for a significant shift in diplomatic tradition, as New Delhi has, for the first time, sent a political figure rather than a career diplomat to head its mission in Dhaka.

He reached Bangladesh on June 12 via a land border crossing from West Bengal, shortly after receiving his Letters of Credence from Indian President Droupadi Murmu on June 5.

His arrival has been closely watched in diplomatic and political circles, given the broader context of evolving Bangladesh-India relations following the political transition in Dhaka after the 2024 July uprising and the fall of the Awami League government.

Trivedi, a former member of the Trinamool Congress, served in the Union Cabinet during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government before resigning from the party in 2021 and later joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

His appointment is widely viewed in diplomatic analysis as a political signalling move by India, reflecting an interest in recalibrating ties with Bangladesh through a figure with direct political experience rather than a traditional diplomatic career background.

Speaking to journalists soon after entering Bangladesh through Benapole, Trivedi emphasised the idea of shared strength between the two countries.

“One strength is not enough. The strength that comes when two countries come together is the real strength. That is the strength the world should see,” he said.

He added that India and Bangladesh together represent a population of around 160 crore people, and that this combined strength should be used for shared progress.

Such remarks created much commotion in the political sphere, social and mainstream media and the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami also sought explanation of such speech.

Currently the Bangladesh-India relations are at low ebb due to different unresolved issues including border push-ins, border killings, water-sharing of Teesta and other trans-boundary rivers.

Observers said that the tenure of Dinesh Trivedi would be an important mission this time how he navigates the relations between the two countries.