 "The Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka called on Bangladesh's chief adviser Muhammad and discussed matters of mutual interest including ways and means to take bilateral relations forward. Source: X/@PakinBangladesh")
Once a foe, now a friend? Does this stand true for Pakistan and Bangladesh? May be yes, as Islamabad, which shared a bitter bond with Dhaka under Sheikh Hasina-led government after refusing to apologise for the 1971 war crimes, is now holding a slew of meetings with members of the interim government in Bangladesh.
The meeting between members of the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, and Dhaka-based Pakistan High Commission officials has been taking place since Hasina resigned and fled the country on August 5 and her government had to step down.
As per speculations, the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka was suspected of playing a role in fanning the violence that forced Hasina to step down from the post of Bangladesh prime minister.
What is Pakistan discussing with Bangladesh’s interim government?
The officials of Pakistan’s High Commission in Dhaka and members of the interim government have been discussing various issues including flood relief, student exchange programmes, sports, IT, youth and culture.
Details of several of these meetings have been shared on X by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka.
On Friday (August 30), Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with Yunus and “underscored importance of revitalising bilateral relations through enhanced coop in various domains."
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSharif also expressed desire to enhance commercial relations, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts between both the leaders.
Sharif and Yunus also agreed on the “need to work closely for progress and prosperity of the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh."
Both the leaders further agreed that greater regional cooperation could play a vital role in uplifting the lives of people of South Asia.
Sharif, during his telephonic conversation with Yunus, also expressed sympathies over the devastation caused by the recent floods in Bangladesh.
The same day (on August 30), Pakistan students met Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, Adviser for Youth and Sports in connection with the flood relief efforts.
On Sunday (September 1), the Pakistan High Commission posted pictures of the meeting of Md. Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, advisers to the interim government and discussed matters of mutual interest including cooperation in the realms of media, sports, youth and culture and IT were discussed.
On August 27, the Pakistan High Commission called on Yunus and discussed “matters of mutual interest including ways and means to take bilateral relations forward.”
On August 29, Pakistan foreign secretary met Bangladesh foreign affairs adviser on the sidelines of the OIC meeting.
Within hours after the ouster of the Hasina government, the Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka had also met Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders.
Bangladesh-Pakistan ties
Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh remained strained during the 15-year rule of Hasina, largely due to historical grievances dating back to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
As per reports, Pakistan had made a number of attempts to improve ties with Bangladesh but Hasina rebuffed those efforts.
The change in leadership in Bangladesh and the ascension of Yunus as interim leader has opened avenues for Pakistan to a potential reset in bilateral ties.