New Indian HC in city

The newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Rajeet Mitter arrived here early yesterday and took his diplomatic assignment.
Prior to his appointment in Bangladesh, Rajeet, a Bangalee and one of the bright diplomats in Indian foreign services, was the Indian ambassador to the Philippines.
He replaced Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, another Bangalee who served here for over six years as both deputy high commissioner and high commissioner. Pinak left Dhaka on December 20 and took over his new assignment in Bangkok.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, a spokesman of the Indian High Commission confirmed the joining of Rajeet to the office. He said that the high commission has already made a request to the foreign ministry for arrangement of necessary formalities so that the envoy can present his credentials soon.
Official sources said a date would be given soon for presenting credentials to the president at Bangabhaban.
Diplomatic sources said the new high commissioner will spend a busy time in Dhaka as he joined here just a few days ahead of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's planned state visit to India from January 10.
Meanwhile, two other high commissioners--one from Pakistan and another from Sri Lanka-- will also take up their diplomatic assignments at their respective missions in Dhaka soon.
Present Pakistan's High Commissioner to South Africa M Ashraf Qureshi has been designated as the new high commissioner to Bangladesh. He will join here early next month. Qureshi will replace Alamgir Bashar Khan Babar.
The government of Sri Lanka is sending Sanath Viragoda to replace incumbent High Commissioner V Krishnamoorthy. Sources said political appointee Sanath Viragoda is most likely to join here in the first quarter of January.