Pranay Verma appointed as next Indian ambassador to Belgium, EU

Pranay Kumar Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, has been appointed as the country’s next ambassador to Belgium and the European Union.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs made the announcement in a press release on Friday. “Shri Pranay Verma, presently High Commissioner of India to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union. 
He is expected to take up the assignment shortly,” the press statement reads.
Prior to his appointment to Dhaka in 2022, Verma had served as India’s ambassador to Vietnam.
Since assuming office in the Bangladesh capital, the seasoned diplomat has had to navigate a turbulent period. 
Diplomatic sources in Dhaka and New Delhi observed that during the July uprising in Bangladesh in 2024, and following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, matters became particularly challenging for India.
According to these sources, a strong anti-India sentiment grew within Bangladesh. Many individuals and political parties directly questioned the role played by India during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. 
The interim government under Prof Muhammad Yunus also complicated matters by blaming India for various incidents.
“Pranay Verma was summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs several times. However, he handled the situation skilfully and sought to persuade both the Indian and Bangladeshi governments to move forward, setting aside their disputes. Consequently, India sent a medical team following the plane crash incident at a Dhaka school,” said an official from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Things gradually improved following the BNP’s victory in Bangladesh’s national polls. Verma maintained communication with all political parties. In particular, he succeeded in conveying a message regarding the Indian government’s readiness to work with the democratically elected government in Bangladesh,” the official added.

Describing Verma as a friend of Bangladesh, the official also said that his new appointment is clear recognition of his outstanding contributions to restoring Bangladesh–India relations.