ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka on Sunday and discussed strengthening bilateral relations, focusing on trade, economic cooperation, youth linkages, connectivity, and regional collaboration.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed revival of old connections between the two countries, promoting youth linkages, enhancing connectivity, and augmenting trade and economic cooperation, Pakistan’s Foreign Office stated in a press release.
Both leaders also discussed recent regional developments and prospects for broader regional collaboration, according to the Foreign Office.
Deputy PM Dar conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Bangladesh interim leader Yunus, and briefed him on his engagements in Dhaka along with the key outcomes of his visit.
Dar also thanked the Chief Advisor for the excellent visit arrangements and the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during the course of the visit.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister , Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, called on H. E. Professor Muhammad Yunus @ChiefAdviserGoB, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh in Dhaka, today. The discussion covered revival of old connections between the two countries, promoting… pic.twitter.com/2pR6G5q2MO
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 24, 2025
Trade and economic cooperation
Pakistan’s Deputy PM Dar, who is on a two-day visit to Dhaka, also met Bangladesh’s Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain to review the full gamut of bilateral relations.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed “high-level exchanges, trade and economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts, cultural exchanges, cooperation on education and capacity building, and humanitarian issues”.
The two sides also discussed regional and international matters, including the rejuvenation of SAARC and the resolution of the Palestine and the Rohingya issue, and both sides agreed to work for further strengthening of bilateral relations.
“The talks took place in a constructive atmosphere, reflecting the existing goodwill and cordiality between the two countries,” the Foreign Office statement said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, held wide-ranging talks with the Foreign Adviser of Bangladesh, H.E. Md. Touhid Hossain in Dhaka. Both sides reviewed entire gamut of bilateral relations, including high level exchanges , trade… pic.twitter.com/nqELdHhbjU
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 24, 2025
The meeting comes as Deputy PM Dar reached Dhaka on Saturday, marking the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to the country in 13 years.
His two-day visit comes in response to the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and will see the Pakistani dignitary meeting the country’s Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The development is to be taken against the backdrop of warming ties between Islamabad and Dhaka ever since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina — who fled to India — after a mass student-led uprising.
Since then, Pakistan and Bangladesh began sea trade last year, expanding government-to-government commerce in February. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also held several interactions with Bangladesh’s Yunus.
Earlier today, Deputy PM Dar, accompanied by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, held a breakfast meeting with Bangladesh’s Commerce Advisor Sk Bashir Uddin, who was flanked by several other key Bangladeshi officials, the Foreign Office stated.
During the huddle, both sides discussed ways to promote economic and commercial cooperation, with a special focus on enhancing trade and promoting connectivity.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 had a breakfast meeting with Bangladesh Adviser for Commerce Sk. Bashir Uddin. Minister of Commerce Jam Khamal Khan also joined the meeting. The Adviser Commerce was accompanied by
Chowdhury Ashik… pic.twitter.com/4JObXtxVAb— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 24, 2025
Meanwhile, following the delegation-level talks, Ishaq Dar and Bangladesh’s Touheed oversaw the signing of six instruments between Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Foreign Office stated.
The list includes an agreement on visa abolition for diplomatic and official passport holders, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Joint Working Group on Trade, MoU between Foreign Service Academies of Pakistan and Bangladesh, MoU between Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, MoU between Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, and Cultural Exchange Programme.
“These agreements will institutionalise and further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in trade and economics, training of diplomats, academic exchanges, media cooperation, and cultural exchanges,” the FO said.
Following delegation level talks in Dhaka today, the DPM/FM @MIshaqDar50 and Foreign Adviser of Bangladesh oversaw signing of six instruments between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Their list includes Agreement between Pakistan and Bangladesh on Visa Abolition for Diplomatic and… pic.twitter.com/jFzKj00s6G
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 24, 2025
Furthermore, coinciding with the visit, Islamabad also launched the “Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor.”
The project envisages the grant of 500 scholarships to Bangladeshi students for pursuing higher studies in Pakistan during the next five years.
A quarter of these scholarships will be awarded in the field of medicine. Additionally, training for 100 Bangladeshi civil servants will be arranged during the same period.
Additionally, Islamabad has also decided to increase the scholarships allocated to Bangladeshi students under the Pakistan Technical Assistance Program from five to 25.
Coinciding with the visit of DPM/FM @MIshaqDar50 to Bangladesh, Pakistan is pleased to launch “Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor.” The project envisages grant of 500 scholarships to Bangladeshi students for pursuing higher studies in Pakistan during the next five years. A…
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 24, 2025
