The foreign ministers of Bangladesh and Pakistan held a telephone conversation on Sunday, expressing their shared desire to further strengthen bilateral relations with a vision of peace, stability and prosperity.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar discussed ways to expand cooperation across diverse sectors and enhance collaboration in multilateral forums. Both sides agreed to build a forward-looking partnership for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.
Meanwhile, the ambassadors of India, China, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on leading BNP to a decisive victory in the recent general election, which they described as one of the most free and fair in the country’s history.
The congratulatory messages were conveyed during separate meetings between the envoys and Khalilur Rahman at the foreign ministry on Sunday, according to a ministry press release.
Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma expressed New Delhi’s readiness to work closely with the new government in Dhaka to further advance bilateral cooperation. The foreign minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s intention to develop a forward-looking and balanced partnership based on mutual interests and benefits for the peoples of both countries. Both sides agreed to maintain regular and constructive engagement to strengthen bilateral relations.
The Indian envoy also extended an invitation from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for the foreign minister to undertake an official visit to New Delhi at an early date.
Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen reiterated Beijing’s firm support for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s “Bangladesh First” policy and conveyed the Chinese leadership’s intention to work closely with the new government to deepen bilateral cooperation.
The foreign minister underscored the importance of advancing the Bangladesh–China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and called for enhanced Chinese engagement with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the early repatriation of Rohingyas.
The ambassador conveyed an invitation from the Chinese foreign minister for an official visit to China at a mutually convenient time.
Saudi Ambassador Abdullah Zafer H bin Abiyah expressed his country’s support for the present government and its intention to elevate bilateral relations to a more comprehensive partnership.
He noted that Saudi Arabia issued around 750,000 work visas and a total of 1.4 million visas to Bangladeshi nationals in 2025, adding that significant opportunities remain for skilled and semi-skilled workers as large-scale development projects continue in the Kingdom.
The foreign minister described Saudi Arabia as a trusted and longstanding partner of Bangladesh. Recalling Riyadh’s support in facilitating the repatriation of approximately 200,000 Rohingyas in 1979 at the request of former president Ziaur Rahman, he appreciated the Kingdom’s continued humanitarian assistance for the 1.2 million Rohingyas currently sheltered in Bangladesh and sought its support for sustainable repatriation to Myanmar.
Pakistani High Commissioner Imran Haider conveyed Islamabad’s strong interest in working closely with the new government in Dhaka to further strengthen and broaden bilateral cooperation.
The foreign minister expressed the government’s intention to explore new avenues of collaboration for the welfare of the peoples of both countries and emphasised Bangladesh’s priority of strengthening regional cooperation in South Asia.
The four envoys also held separate meetings with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.
