It was a statement made in utter sincerity. But people with fixed agenda and perhaps known pro-Pakistani tilt has tried to interpret it.
Displaying diplomatic niceties; India's new envoy to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has stated that --
“Together, we (people of India and Bangladesh) can emerge as the strongest democracy and one of the strongest world powers. That is what we are going to do".
He was talking to reporters after visiting Netaji Bhavan in Kolkata, a day before he was to leave for Bangladesh to take up his new assignment.
Trivedi said he will be in Bangladesh and discharge role as the Indian envoy “with a lot of energy and the good wishes of 160 crore people of India and Bangladesh”.
Trivedi, who is a Gujarati but can speak Bangla, also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting him with such a responsibility.
Trivedi's remarks that he would function with the blessings of 140 crore Indians and “20 crore of our brothers and sisters of Bangladesh” must have displeased certain quarters both in Bangladesh and beyond.
“I have no doubt about it,” said Trivedi, who is replacing Pranay Kumar Verma as India’s ambassador to Bangladesh.
Verma has been appointed Indian ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union. Trivedi is a rare ad maiden politician in history to be appointed high commissioner in Dhaka, Normally so far only career diplomat and that too seasoned hand used to be appointed for the envoy's post in the key eastern neighbour. The move to appoint a politician Dinesh Trivedi is seen as a well thoight out move by New Delhi's foreign policy engine room.
Trivedi grew up and worked in West Bengal for long and has considerable knowledge about West Bengal, Bangladesh and the historical contexts. The fact that he hails from Gujarat is seen as PM Modi's direct message that the new high commissioner will have no less than the 'ear' of the Prime Minister himself.
Dinesh Trivedi takes charge at a time when Indian push-ins have become a contentious issue in Dhaka-Delhi ties, despite efforts to repair relations strained by the fall of the Awami League government in 2024.
Trade restrictions imposed by both sides are affecting businesses, while India has yet to fully resume visa facilities for Bangladeshis.
Other important issues that remain to be settled include the renewal of the Ganges and Teesta water-sharing treaties.
Foreign policy analysts said Trivedi, who was born and raised in West Bengal has in-depth knowledge of the politics of Bengal and Bangladesh, and that this will help him improve ties between the neighbours.
In a post shared on Facebook, Bangladesh Jamaat leader Shafiqur Rahman said the envoy’s comment had come to his attention following his arrival in Bangladesh.
“We believe our government (Bangladesh) should seek clarification from him regarding what he meant by the phrase ‘India and Bangladesh becoming one", he wrote.
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