KEY POINTS
- The arrangement will remain in place for five years
- Bangladesh already has similar agreements with 31 countries
- The move is expected to strengthen diplomatic ties
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Pakistan and Bangladesh have signed a mutual visa exemption agreement that allows diplomats and government officials to travel without visas, following approval by Bangladesh’s interim Advisory Council, officials said on Friday.
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.
“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.
The development follows the last month’s meeting in Dhaka between Bangladesh’s Home Adviser, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi.
During the talks, both sides indicated they were in the final stages of drafting a memorandum of understanding to grant visa-on-arrival facilities for holders of official passports.
The move is expected to deepen diplomatic ties and facilitate smoother engagement at the official level between the two South Asian nations.
Observers see this visit as more than protocol—it’s a pulse check on regional dynamics and a proactive bid by two key South Asian players to build bridges in an era where connectivity, not conflict, may shape the future.
In addition to defence cooperation, both countries have also agreed to boost bilateral trade and industrial development through collaborative initiatives.
This consensus was reached during a meeting in Dhaka between Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, and Bangladesh’s Adviser for Industries, Adilur Rahman Khan.
The Commerce Minister expressed Pakistan’s strong interest in contributing to Bangladesh’s growing industrial sector through joint ventures and mutual investment.
Earlier, during his visit to the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Minister encouraged Bangladeshi businesses to import key products from Pakistan, including cement, sugar, footwear, and leather goods.
Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh appear to be warming following the removal of India-aligned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina, who had served as Bangladesh’s prime minister for several years, was ousted during a revolution in August 2024.
She reportedly fled to India by helicopter, where she has since resisted extradition requests to face charges of crimes against humanity.
