Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and commerce minister were in Bangladesh on Saturday in a landmark moment toward rebuilding ties, a year after the ouster of pro-India Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid. diplomacy and trade
Marking the first high-level visit in 13 years, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Dhaka on Saturday for a series of meetings while Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan has been in the South Asian country for four days.
On Saturday, the Advisory Council of Bangladesh’s interim administration, led by Muhammad Yunus, approved a mutual visa exemption agreement, his press secretary Shafiqul Alam told a news conference in Dhaka. diplomacy and trade
“The agreement will be for five years. Those who have diplomatic and official passports will be able to travel to Pakistan without a visa,” Alam said. He noted that Bangladesh already has similar arrangements with 31 other countries.
Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, reached Dhaka on an official visit. He was received at the airport by Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, along side Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Mr. Imran… pic.twitter.com/96oZ2Hhi9c
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 23, 2025
Pakistani foreign minister Dar, who arrived in Dhaka on a special flight, was welcomed by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. This visit is notable as the highest-level Pakistani leader to visit Bangladesh since 2012.
Islamabad called the visit a ‘significant milestone’ in bilateral relations.
The latest developments represent a turnaround after years of pro-India policies under Hasina, who was always found eager to follow New Delhi on major regional and international issues, reducing Dhaka’s scope for ties with other countries.
Bangladesh, formerly known as East Pakistan, came into being with the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971 when Indian forces entered the then East Pakistan to fight Pakistan army. Although Pakistan recognized Bangladesh as an independent country in 1974, the relations between them remained frozen for decades as the memory of Pakistani forces violently trying to quell the uprising by Sheikh Hasina’s father remained fresh for Bangladeshis.
As part of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s interaction with different political stakeholders , Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, held a meeting with a delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The delegation was led by Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher, Naib… pic.twitter.com/bI9hUedtnr
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 23, 2025
The foreign minister’s array of scheduled engagement includes meetings with Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain and the potential signing of up to half a dozen agreements and memoranda of understanding.
Commerce Minister engaged with Bangladeshi counterparts and business leaders as part of a concerted effort to improve trade ties between the two nations.
Khan and Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser Bashir Uddin visited Chittagong on Saturday.
They met with the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade.
During the visit, they also toured the ship-breaking industry and Chittagong Port.
The two sides talked about trade cooperation in ready-made garments, agriculture, ship recycling, logistics, and trade digitization.
The ministers discussed direct flights and frequent shipping routes between Pakistan and Bangladesh to make trade faster and more efficient.
Both leaders announced plans to form a Joint Working Group on Trade. This group will help create a formal framework for dialogue and collaboration between the two countries.
Bangladeshi business communities have been invited to attend the International Food and Agricultural Exhibition in Karachi in November 2025.
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Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
