Indian High Commissioner-designate to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has expressed optimism that both Bangladesh and India can emerge as the strongest democracy and one of the strongest world powers together, stressing that they will achieve the goal.

“We wish the people of India and Bangladesh that - together - both of us can emerge to be the strongest democracy and one of the strongest world powers together. And that is what we are going to do. And I have no doubt about it that we'll achieve that,” said the veteran politician in Kolkata on Thursday.

India names veteran politician Dinesh Trivedi as new envoy to Bangladesh

Dinesh Trivedi recently received the Letters of Credence for his appointment as the High Commissioner of India to the People's Republic of Bangladesh from President of India Droupadi Murmu and is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh through Benapole-Petrapole land port on Friday, a diplomatic source told UNB.

"We are at Netaji Bhavan. I have been very fortunate that this is the place where I have grown up. My emotional thoughts - like 140 crore people of this country……. and I'm getting energy from you,” said the seasoned politician and former Union Minister of India.

He said he is sure that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 140 crore people of this country have given him such an important responsibility for which he is grateful.

“And I have no doubt about it. With this 140 crore, I had another 20 crore of our brothers and sisters and mothers of Bangladesh. So, together, we will absolutely be achieving whatever we want to achieve in the world,” said Dinesh Trivedi.

He said he is set to come to Bangladesh with a lot of energy and a lot of good wishes from not 140 crore, but 160 crore people of both the countries.

“So I'm very, very happy and I'm grateful to the Prime Minister (of India), the people of this country, for giving me such a responsibility and putting faith in me,” Dinesh Trivedi said.

High Commissioner-designate Dinesh Trivedi visited Netaji Bhavan in Kolkata ahead of taking charge in Bangladesh.

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.

In May, he met Chief of Army Staff of India General Upendra Dwivedi and discussed issues of mutual interest, including border security and military-to-military cooperation, between Bangladesh and India.

The interaction focused on strengthening India-Bangladesh defence ties, border security and enhancing military-to-military engagement.

On April 27 last, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment of Dinesh Trivedi as the next High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.