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by the phrase ‘India and Bangladesh becoming one,’” he wrote.

Emphasising the sovereignty of both countries, the Jamaat chief said, “Just as India is an independent country, Bangladesh is also an independent country.”

He said the remark, if left unexplained, would create confusion among the public.

“We request our government to address this matter sincerely,” he wrote.

Shafiqur further said that if the envoy had intended the statement in its literal sense, “then it is certainly condemnable”.

“The issue needs to be clarified,” he added.

Trivedi entered Bangladesh by road through the Benapole-Petrapole border at around 11:00am on Friday. He was received at the Benapole No Man’s Land by officials from Bangladesh’s home ministry, the Indian High Commission and the Benapole Land Port. His wife Mrinal Trivedi accompanied him.

He later left for Dhaka by road at around 12:30pm and briefly spoke to Bangladeshi journalists before departing.

In April, the Indian government appointed Trivedi, a former Indian railway minister and former MLA from Barrackpore representing the BJP, as India’s 18th high commissioner to Bangladesh. He succeeded Pranay Verma.

The appointment marked a departure from India’s longstanding diplomatic practice of appointing career Indian Foreign Service officers as high commissioners. In the 55-year history of bilateral relations, Trivedi is the first politician to be appointed as India’s high commissioner to Bangladesh.