During the meeting, the Pakistani envoy congratulated Dr Khalilur Rehman on assuming office and highlighted the recent positive trajectory in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. Both sides discussed expanding cooperation in key sectors including education, trade, agriculture, health, and communication.
The two diplomats emphasized the need to establish formal bilateral mechanisms to strengthen institutional engagement and explore new avenues for collaboration.
Dr Khalilur Rehman welcomed the briefing and expressed satisfaction over the progress made in bilateral ties between the two countries.
Political Transition in Bangladesh
The diplomatic engagement comes after a major political shift in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) returned to power with a landslide victory, securing 212 parliamentary seats. The Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the second-largest party with 68 seats, while the student-led National Citizens Party (NCP) won six seats.
Tariq Rehman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, was sworn in as Prime Minister on February 17. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated him and extended an invitation for an official visit to Pakistan.
Earlier, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country on August 5, 2024, amid nationwide student protests over the government job quota system. An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed on August 8, 2024, and governed for 18 months, focusing on constitutional and electoral reforms before fresh elections restored the BNP to power.
The latest meeting signals a renewed diplomatic momentum between Islamabad and Dhaka following Bangladesh’s political transition.