Govt gives India's envoy to Bangladesh status of Cabinet minister
NEW DELHI/DHAKA: In a decision that underscores the importance New Delhi attaches to its diplomatic engagement with Dhaka, India’s new high commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has been accorded status equivalent to Union cabinet minister.
Soon after presenting his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Thursday, Trivedi — the first politician to serve in this position — announced resumption of travel visas for Bangladeshi nationals from all five visa application centres — Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet and Khulna. It was halted nearly two years ago amid deteriorating ties and the security situation during the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime, which came into being after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as PM in 2024.
In an office memorandum, dated June 24, the home ministry said Trivedi “has been assigned the equivalent status of Union cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence (ToP) as a measure personal to him, without amending the Table of Precedence”. ToP determines hierarchy for constitutional authorities, ministers, judges, diplomats and officials during state and ceremonial functions. The order clarified the status is meant “for ceremonial functions only”.
Soon after presenting his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Thursday, Trivedi — the first politician to serve in this position — announced resumption of travel visas for Bangladeshi nationals from all five visa application centres — Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet and Khulna. It was halted nearly two years ago amid deteriorating ties and the security situation during the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime, which came into being after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as PM in 2024.
In an office memorandum, dated June 24, the home ministry said Trivedi “has been assigned the equivalent status of Union cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence (ToP) as a measure personal to him, without amending the Table of Precedence”. ToP determines hierarchy for constitutional authorities, ministers, judges, diplomats and officials during state and ceremonial functions. The order clarified the status is meant “for ceremonial functions only”.
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