A significant step towards strengthening bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan was taken as the foreign ministers of both nations signed one agreement and four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) during a high-level meeting on Sunday.
The meeting, held at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka, marked the first such foreign ministerial-level bilateral talks between the two countries since 1971. The discussions centered around mutual cooperation and the future of the diplomatic relations.
After the meeting, Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser, Touhid Hossain, said, “Dhaka desires friendly relations with Pakistan,” while his Pakistani counterpart, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, described the talks as “important” in the face of global and regional challenges.
During his two-day visit, Ishaq Dar also engaged in discussions with Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser, Sheikh Bashiruddin, over breakfast on Sunday. He continued his diplomatic engagements with the Foreign Adviser and is scheduled to meet with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in the afternoon. Later in the day, Dar will visit BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at her residence in Gulshan.
In addition to official meetings, Dar held separate discussions with leaders from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen’s Party (NCP). These talks focused on enhancing bilateral relations and expanding political cooperation. Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen ties with Bangladesh, signaling a promising future for diplomatic engagement between the two countries.