Bangladesh, Pakistan Ink Trade and Diplomatic Deals During Islamabad Envoy’s ‘Historic’ Visit

Bangladesh, Pakistan Sign Multiple Agreements During Historic High-Level Visit.

Bangladesh and Pakistan signed a series of trade and diplomatic agreements on Sunday during Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Dhaka — the first such high-level engagement in over a decade.

Dar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday, following Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan’s visit two days earlier. He is the most senior Pakistani official to visit Bangladesh since 2012. Pakistan described the trip as historic and a “significant milestone” in bilateral ties, which have been warming since the recent ouster of Bangladesh’s former leader, Sheikh Hasina.

During the visit, Dar met Bangladesh’s interim administration, and together with Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain, signed agreements to strengthen trade and diplomatic relations. The documents included:

Visa exemptions for officials and diplomats

Memorandums of understanding to establish a joint trade working group

Cooperation agreements between foreign service academies and national news agencies

Institutional partnership between Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. Hossain also confirmed plans to launch direct flights between the two countries, with two Pakistani airlines receiving initial approval.

“Pakistan is an important neighbor with whom we share historical ties. We expressed a firm determination to advance our existing relations,” Hossain said.

The talks focused on boosting trade and investment, while also staying aligned on bilateral and multilateral issues. Relations between Islamabad and Dhaka had long been limited, largely due to Bangladesh’s 1971 war crimes trials and Hasina’s India-aligned government. Her removal has since opened space for renewed exchanges with Pakistan.

Regional cooperation, particularly through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), was also discussed. Hossain said, “This cooperation will increase further,” highlighting areas such as youth linkages, connectivity, and economic collaboration.

Dar also met Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, to discuss reviving ties and promoting economic and youth cooperation.

Experts note that while the agreements signal Pakistan’s eagerness to improve relations, the long-term impact will depend on the political decisions of Bangladesh’s next elected government, with general elections scheduled for February 2026.

“We know interim governments are short-lived, so these steps are preliminary. The next political administration will determine the depth and continuity of cooperation,” said Shomsher Mobin Chowdhury, former Bangladesh foreign secretary.