A week ago, I had posted a story on SNG asking the question Wanted, A High Commissioner to Bangladesh: Politician Or Diplomat?
It’s now officially confirmed by the External Affairs Ministry that veteran politician Dinesh Trivedi will move to Dhaka as high commissioner, replacing incumbent Pranay Verma who has completed his term.
His selection clearly had the approval of the Bangladesh government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The latter probably sees in Trivedi a direct line to Prime Minister Modi and that is the advantage of political appointees.
The current US Ambassador to India Sergey Gor, is reported to have President Donald Trump’s ear, so when his name came up Delhi did not demur.
As the new BNP government in Dhaka has indicated, good relations with India, which surrounds it on three sides, is plain common sense.
But more than that, with the Ganga Waters Treaty expiring at the end of this year, and the stalemate in negotiations over the Teesta Waters, well disposed high level political muscle in Delhi could be a great help in securing a positive outcome to the talks.
Prime Minister Rahman may also be anxious to get Indian-aided projects moving. Many if not most Indian projects involve grants not loans, which means Dhaka saves a lot of money.
Don’t forget Bangladesh’s domestic politics. The BNP won a solid majority in the recent elections but the Jamaat-e-Islami sees itself as the natural successor to the BNP. It is a religious party, has a mass following and the appeal of going back to a time when the Prophet ruled, has a powerful appeal.
Traditionally, the BNP has been hostile to India and in the past has supported groups inimical to India’s interests, but that needn’t be the case this time.
India can be a powerful ally when the going gets tough and Trivedi knows Bengal. He knows what is needed to push through any potential agreement on sharing river waters, what kind of capital to be expended and more.
By dispatching Dinesh Trivedi, India is banking on his understanding of Bengal and Bengali politics to rebuild the relationship with Dhaka. Delhi knows the time to move is now, when the new government is settling in and is looking for help of every kind.
Trivedi is no Superman, but he is expected to exercise sagacity, show empathy and understanding with his interlocutors in Dhaka that will enable the door to be shut on the past and new beginnings made.
