The Indian government has reportedly decided to send 75-year-old veteran politician and former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi as next India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

As a first political appointee in the neighbourhood after a long time, BJP leader Trivedi will replace career diplomat Pranay Verma, who will move to Brussels as the Indian Ambassador to the European Union (EU), reports Hindustan Times on Sunday, describing the move as a significant development.

However, a diplomatic source in New Delhi told UNB that there has been no official announcement yet.

Meanwhile, Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJP’s National Information and Technology Department and co-incharge West Bengal congratulated Dinesh Trivedi for being appointed as India's envoy to High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

“Congratulations to Sri Dinesh Trivedi, senior BJP leader, former Union Minister and Barrackpore MP, for being appointed as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh,” Amit Malviya said in a post on X.

Trivedi was a Union Minister for Railways and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare during the UPA regime, as a member of the Trinamool Congress.

He resigned from the TMC on February 12, 2021 and joined the BJP on March 6, 2021.

Pranay Verma, current Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, has recently been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union.

On April 10, the Ministry of External Affairs of India announced his appointment, noting that he will be accredited as Ambassador of India to the European Union.

Pranay Verma is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

Diplomatic sources told UNB that High Commissioner Verma is likely to continue here for one or two months as the new Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh has yet to be announced.

Pranay Verma, who served as Ambassador of India to Vietnam, arrived in Dhaka on September 21, 2022.