India elevates High Commissioner to Dhaka Dinesh Trivedi to Cabinet rank

The government of India has elevated its High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, to the rank equivalent of a Union Cabinet Minister for ceremonial purposes, granting him higher protocol status in the country's Table of Precedence.

According to an Office Memorandum issued by the government of India on 24 June, the status has been conferred as a personal measure for Trivedi and does not entail any amendment to the existing Table of Precedence.

The memorandum clarified that the special status is applicable solely for ceremonial functions.

"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," the memorandum stated.

The order was issued by Kamlesh Rabidas, Under Secretary to the Government of India.

The Table of Precedence is an official protocol list that determines the ranking of dignitaries and office-holders during state and ceremonial events.