Riaz Hamidullah was named Bangladesh’s next High Commissioner to India, a major step that suggests improved relations between neighbors. Days after a high-profile meeting between Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Mohammed Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, he arrives in New Delhi at a pivotal moment.
Hamidullah, a seasoned diplomat from the Bangladesh Foreign Service’s 1995 class, brings decades of diplomatic expertise and a track record of building solid bilateral ties with him. His hiring puts an end to a protracted gap in the important diplomatic position, which bodes well for future interaction and collaboration between the two nations.
This change is seen by many as more than a simple diplomatic reorganization. The timing is considered significant given the changing regional dynamics and the increased emphasis being paid to South Asia’s expanding significance on a global scale. Hamidullah’s assignment may be the next move toward a potential rapprochement, which was already suggested during the Bangkok conference.
India and Bangladesh share deep historical, cultural, and economic ties, but recent years have seen occasional friction. The appointment of an experienced envoy is being welcomed as a step toward rebuilding trust and enhancing collaboration, especially in trade, water-sharing, and security.
As High Commissioner Hamidullah begins his tenure, diplomats and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how this new chapter unfolds.
