Monitoring Desk:
Dhaka/Islamabad — Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, held a landmark meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Sunday during his two-day official visit to Dhaka — the first by a Pakistani foreign minister in more than a decade.
The Foreign Office described the trip as a “milestone step forward” in strengthening relations between Islamabad and Dhaka, which have seen renewed warmth following last year’s political transition in Bangladesh. The change of government in August 2024 paved the way for improved bilateral ties, with notable progress in trade, diplomacy, and regional engagement.
During his discussions with Yunus, Dar highlighted recent regional developments and emphasized the need for deeper cooperation across South Asia.
Six Agreements Signed to Boost Cooperation
Earlier, Dar met Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, where the two sides held delegation-level talks and oversaw the signing of six agreements across diverse sectors.
- Visa abolition for diplomatic and official passport holders of both countries.
- Formation of a Joint Working Group on Trade to promote economic partnership.
- MoU between Foreign Service academies of Pakistan and Bangladesh to enhance diplomatic training.
- MoU between the Associated Press of Pakistan and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha to strengthen media collaboration.
- MoU between think tanks — the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).
- A Cultural Exchange Programme to promote people-to-people ties.
According to the Foreign Office, these agreements will “institutionalize cooperation and provide a framework for long-term partnership in trade, economy, media, academia, and culture.”
Renewed Bilateral Momentum
The visa-free entry for official passport holders had already been agreed in principle during Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to Dhaka last month. Sunday’s agreements further cement the intention of both countries to open new avenues for collaboration.
Observers note that Dar’s Dhaka visit marks a significant turning point in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, laying the foundation for stronger political, economic, and cultural engagement in the years ahead.
