Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is eagerly looking forward to visiting Bangladesh to personally greet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, signalling Islamabad’s growing interest in revitalising bilateral relations.
The message was conveyed by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on Thursday during the Executive Meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Palestine held in Jeddah.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Dar expressed hope that relations between the two countries would steadily prosper under the new government in Dhaka, reflecting a renewed diplomatic momentum between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Diplomatic analysts view Pakistan’s outreach as a continuation of the engagement Islamabad initiated with Bangladesh’s Interim Government following the 2024 political transition.
Observers also note that BNP has traditionally maintained relatively warm relations with Pakistan, which may further facilitate high-level exchanges in the coming months.
Mashfee Binte Shams, former ambassador to Nepal and former deputy high commissioner of the Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi, said that after the fall of the Awami League government in 2024, the interim government tried to rectify the relationship with Pakistan, which had been dormant during the Hasina regime.
She added that historically BNP has maintained good relations with Pakistan, making a high-level visit between the two countries likely in the near future.
Mahbub Hassan Saleh, former ambassador of Bangladesh to the European Union and former deputy high commissioner of the Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi, noted that Pakistan, having historically warm ties with the BNP, wants to improve the bilateral relationship.
He observed that Islamabad is interested in expanding trade ties while also seeking political leverage in the region, particularly in balancing India’s influence.
During the Awami League government from 2009 to 2024, Bangladesh–Pakistan relations remained largely dormant, marked by limited diplomatic engagement and minimal high-level interaction.
The latest developments indicate a possible shift toward renewed cooperation and broader diplomatic engagement between Dhaka and Islamabad.
