Pakistan-Bangladesh Relations in Spotlight as Dar Meets Chief Adviser Yunus

ISLAMABAD – Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh are witnessing a revival following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government last year. Since then, trade and diplomatic engagement between the two countries has shown marked improvement. Against this backdrop, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka for a two-day visit, which the Foreign Office (FO) has described as a “significant milestone”, the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh in 13 years.

The FO confirmed that Dar called on Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and briefed him on the progress of his trip. The two leaders discussed “revival of old connections” between their nations, as well as ways to enhance youth exchanges, trade, and regional cooperation. Yunus stressed the importance of deepening bilateral trade, people-to-people linkages — particularly among the younger generation — and reaffirmed his support for reviving SAARC. “I encourage Saarc, and I see our relationship with Pakistan and other Saarc countries as one of the highest priorities,” he said.

Later in the day, Dar also met Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He conveyed Pakistan’s goodwill, praised her services as premier, and enquired about her health. According to the FO, memories of Zia’s 2006 visit to Pakistan were also recalled during the meeting.

Earlier, Pakistan and Bangladesh signed six agreements in areas including trade, media, academia, and culture after delegation-level talks between Dar and Bangladesh’s Adviser for Foreign Affairs Touhid Hossain. The agreements included visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports, MoUs between the two countries’ foreign service academies, news agencies, and think tanks, as well as a cultural exchange programme. FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the pacts will “institutionalise and further strengthen bilateral cooperation.”

According to Bangladesh’s The Daily Star, Dar and Hossain first held a one-on-one meeting before leading delegation talks at Dhaka’s Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel. The discussions covered the “entire gamut of bilateral relations” in what both sides described as a constructive atmosphere. Regional and international issues including the revival of SAARC, the Palestinian cause, and the Rohingya crisis — were also part of the talks.

Pakistan also launched the “Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor”, under which 500 scholarships will be awarded to Bangladeshi students over the next five years. A quarter of these scholarships will be in medicine, while 100 Bangladeshi civil servants will also receive training in Pakistan. Additionally, scholarships under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme will be increased from five to 25.

Continuing his engagements, Dar met Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Dr Shafiqur Rahman, who is recovering from cardiac surgery, and conveyed well-wishes on behalf of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He also lauded Rahman’s contributions in politics, education, and social welfare.

Earlier in the morning, Dar and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan attended a breakfast meeting with Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin and senior trade officials, including the central bank governor, revenue board chairman, and trade commission representatives. Discussions centred on boosting economic cooperation, expanding trade, and enhancing connectivity.

On Friday evening, Dar and Kamal attended a reception hosted by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider. In his address, Dar highlighted Pakistan’s “fraternal sentiments” towards Bangladesh, rooted in shared traditions, Islamic heritage, and cultural ties. He reiterated Islamabad’s desire to pursue a “forward-looking relationship” with Dhaka.

During his trip, Dar also held meetings with delegations of three Bangladeshi political parties — the National Citizens Party (NCP), Jamaat-i-Islami, and the BNP. According to The Daily Star, both sides are now considering convening the long-delayed Joint Economic Commission meeting, which has not been held for two decades. Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is expected to travel to Dhaka in September or October for the session.