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India's new High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi took charge in Dhaka and announced the resumption of travel visas for Bangladeshi nationals. The move signals a push to ease restrictions and rebuild ties after two years of strain.
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Dhaka,UPDATED: Jun 25, 2026 16:38 IST
India's new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, on Thursday announced the resumption of travel visas for Bangladeshi nationals as he took charge in Dhaka, a day after New Delhi granted him the status of a Union minister for ceremonial functions.
The 76-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party leader presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin, formally beginning his diplomatic assignment. Trivedi, who was named envoy to Bangladesh on April 27, is the first politician to serve in the post. He has succeeded career diplomat Pranay Kumar Verma.
A Bangabhaban presidential palace spokesman said, "The new Indian High Commissioner has presented his credentials to the honourable president, beginning his diplomatic assignment in Dhaka." The spokesman said a contingent of the President Guard Regiment offered Trivedi a guard of honour before he presented his diplomatic papers. Soon after the ceremony, Trivedi made his first public appearance at the Indian Visa Centre in the capital, where he announced the resumption of travel visas. These visas had been halted nearly two years ago amid an escalated security situation and worsening ties with New Delhi during the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime.
"I am very happy to be able to announce the launch of general travel visas again. Visa applications can be submitted starting June 28," Trivedi said. He said visas would be issued from all five centres — Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Sylhet and Khulna — and that the process would be expanded further in future. He also said urgent medical visas would continue to be issued on humanitarian grounds. Trivedi had arrived in Bangladesh through the Benapole-Petrapole land border on June 12.
India granted Trivedi the status of a Union minister on Wednesday through an official memorandum issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. His appointment comes after Verma's four-year tenure, which ended last month and saw the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's government in a student-led uprising in August 2024, followed by a downturn in India-Bangladesh ties under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. Elections were held in Bangladesh earlier this year, but Hasina's Awami League was barred from contesting, and Bangladesh ist Party leader Tarique Rahman took oath as prime minister on February 17.
With PTI Inputs
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Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jun 25, 2026 16:38 IST
