The Ministry of External Affairs has announced the appointment of Pranay Kumar Verma, the current High Commissioner to Bangladesh, as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union. He is expected to assume the new role shortly, as per a notification issued by the ministry.
The development has renewed speculation in Bangladeshi media about who will replace Verma in Dhaka. Reports naming senior Indian politician and former Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan as a likely successor have been circulating for several days, initially triggered by an Indian media report on 4 April and picked up by Bangladeshi outlets.
The report by indianmandarins.com, a site focused on civil services, stated, “the power corridor is abuzz that Khan may be appointed as High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh replacing Pranay Kumar Verma.”
Several Bangladeshi media have given the story prominent coverage. Bdnews24 stated: “Arif M Khan may be appointed next Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh,” citing the earlier Indian report. The Daily Star ran the headline “Arif Mohammed Khan tipped as next Indian envoy to Bangladesh as Pranay Verma heads to Brussels.”
Arif Mohammad Khan, a veteran politician who previously served as a Union minister under Rajiv Gandhi and as governor of both Kerala and Bihar, would represent an unusual choice for the post if appointed, as it has typically gone to career diplomats in recent years.
However, the Indian government has issued no official confirmation of Khan’s appointment or that of any other successor.
