NEW YORK: Pakistan and Bangladesh on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people contacts.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Bangladesh H.E. Tarique Rahman on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The two Prime Ministers reviewed bilateral relations and expressed… pic.twitter.com/bzDuA4lJVI
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) September 24, 2026
The two Prime Ministers reviewed bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in Pakistan-Bangladesh ties.
Prime Minister Sharif congratulated Bangladesh on assuming the Presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly and expressed Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh’s efforts to advance the objectives of the United Nations.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to further deepen mutually beneficial bilateral relations with Bangladesh.
Reciprocating the sentiment, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed satisfaction on the positive trajectory and noted his government’s keen desire to enhance Bangladesh-Pakistan ties.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets PrimeMinister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh,https://t.co/esCJasFf9g.Tarique Rahman in New York. pic.twitter.com/NyNBhXO4ta
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) September 24, 2026
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments and emphasised the importance of continued coordination at multilateral fora, particularly the United Nations.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have witnessed a marked increase in high-level engagement over the past 18 months. The two countries are seeking to build a forward-looking partnership centred on economic cooperation, regional connectivity and mutually beneficial engagement.
Bilateral trade stood at $865 million in 2024-25, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both countries are working to expand bilateral trade.
During Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Bangladesh in August 2025, the two countries signed eight agreements and memorandums of understanding, including the Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor, under which 500 fully funded scholarships are to be offered to Bangladeshi students at Pakistani universities over five years. Pakistan says 74 students had joined their respective institutions by February 2026, while the second phase of the initiative was launched in Dhaka in May 2026.
Following Tarique Rahman’s election as Bangladesh’s prime minister in February 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated him and invited him to visit Pakistan. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact to advance cooperation between the two countries.
