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NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday assigned the equivalent status of a Union Cabinet minister to India’s new high commissioner to Dhaka, Dinesh Trivedi, in the Table of Precedence.According to an office memorandum issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the status was assigned as a measure personal to Trivedi, without amending the Table of Precedence.“The undersigned is directed to say that Shri Dinesh Trivedi, high commissioner of India to Bangladesh, 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. This position in the Table of Precedence is for ceremonial functions only,” the memorandum reads.This comes as BJP leader Trivedi presented his credentials to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin, marking the start of his diplomatic assignment.He was named as the envoy to Bangladesh on April 27, becoming the first politician to serve in this position.“The new Indian high commissioner has presented his credentials to the honourable president, beginning his diplomatic assignment in Dhaka,” a Bangabhaban presidential palace spokesman said.The spokesman said a contingent of the President Guard Regiment offered him a guard of honour before Trivedi presented his diplomatic papers.Shortly 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 for Bangladeshi nationals.The travel visas were halted nearly two years ago amid an escalated security situation and deteriorating 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,” he said.Trivedi succeeded career diplomat Pranay Kumar Verma.He arrived in Bangladesh through its western Benapole-Petrapole land border on June 12.Verma’s four-year tenure, which ended last month, witnessed the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government in a student-led uprising in August 2024 and a subsequent downturn in India-Bangladesh relations under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.
