Next month FOC set to boost Bangladesh-Pakistan relations

Pakistan is trying to boost its relationship with Bangladesh since the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2025 through a mass movement, engineered by the students. 

They are now looking forward to upcoming Dhaka–Islamabad Foreign Office Consultation (FOC).

These two nations relations are gaining new momentum as the Dhaka–Islamabad FOC is set to be held on April 17, 2025 after a gap of nearly 15 years, sources in Dhaka, Islamabad and Karachi said.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Jashim Uddin, and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Amna Baloch, will lead their respective delegations. 

Following this, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain will hold a bilateral meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on 22 April.

The planned FOC was cancelled several times on various grounds, including diplomatic row between the two countries following the trial of war criminals in Bangladesh.

The last bilateral consultation between the countries was held in Islamabad in 2010.

Trade, connectivity, investment, cultural exchange, people-to- people contact and military cooperation are likely to dominate Dhaka–Islamabad Foreign Office Consultation (FOC), sources said.

Sources said both countries are working on holding the planned (FOC) as Bangladesh intends to come off the ‘Indian spider net’ and is now pursuing an independent Foreign Policy after 17 years.  

However, according to the initial plan, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch is expected to meet Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus at the latter’s office in the city.

The Dhaka-Islamabad talks are important against the backdrop of the changing environment in Bangladesh and in restoring normal relations between the Bangladesh–Pakistan that suffered during the last 17 years, said a high official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who worked in Islamabad and Karachi. 

The relations between two South Asian countries reached a historic low during the last Awami League regime ranging between 2009-2024, said some Bangladesh diplomats.

Pakistani prime minister Shahbaz Sharif held a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York last September and again at the D-8 summit in Cairo last December.

The meeting is also being held against the backdrop of Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Professor Yunus’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing later this month and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the first week of next month at the BIMSTEC meeting in Bangkok.

According to sources from an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh maintains that any progress in bilateral relations must address long-standing unresolved issues, including, Pakistan’s unconditional apology for the 1971 war crimes, compensation for war damages, repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, Bangladesh’s rightful share of pre-1971 assets, repayment of foreign aid during the 1970 cyclone in undivided Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the immediate past Bangladesh High Commissioner, Md. Ruhul Alam Siddique, worked 4 years in Islamabad and also worked in the Karachi mission to deepen economic relations with Pakistan.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Muhammad Iqbal Hussain Khan has been working hard to deepen social, economic and cultural connectivity to a new height, sources in Dhaka, Islamabad and Karachi said. 

Another official said that trade and investment issues with focus on simplifying processes, enhancing cultural exchange, visa process, stranded Pakistani issues and other unresolved ones will come up in ‘different shapes’ during the discussion.

Holding trial of the accused 195 military personnel for their brutal role in 1971 and giving compensation to the victim families in Bangladesh may also be discussed in the FOC.

After the ungracious departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, the Indian establishments and the media are bearing an unhealthy mindset causing an immense embarrassment to Bangladesh. 

The Indian establishments and media are strong across the world and are doing deep conspiracy against Bangladesh and the interim government, headed by Nobel Laureate Professor Mohammad Yunus.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh may raise the long-pending issue of seeking unconditional and formal apology from Pakistan for the barbarities of its forces on innocent Bangladeshi civilians in 1971 during the next round of FOC in Dhaka.

A Mofa official said, discussions could center on how they can strengthen cooperation within the regional framework, SAARC. Bangladesh and Pakistan could increase bilateral scholarships and academic exchanges between universities. This would foster intellectual exchange and a better understanding of each country’s socio-political systems. They could also collaborate on research projects related to science, technology, and social studies, strengthening the academic ties.

Meanwhile, in the past India often put embargoes on export of essential commodities of specified quantity of nine products including potatoes, onions, eggs, rice, wheat flour and sugar to neighboring countries, including Bangladesh, causing price hike of essentials.

Bangladesh should mull over signing a contact at the state level with Pakistan regarding export of rice, wheat flour and sugar at regular interval to maintain stability in the market, said a leading businessman of the country

On the topic of direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan, a Foreign Ministry official noted that direct cargo shipping has already begun between the two nations, and visa restrictions have been eased. Trade and commerce are also showing signs of expansion.

Additionally, Fly Jinnah, a Pakistani low-cost airline, is awaiting final approval to begin passenger flights to Bangladesh. Bangladesh has already granted Fly Jinnah permission, and Pakistan’s aviation authority is currently working on finalising its General Sales Agent (GSA) approval, according to Prothom Alo.

Sources in Dhaka, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad said some 25 lakh Bangalee- Bangladeshis live in Karachi and most of them hold Pakistani passports.

Sources said even 5.00 per cent of 25 lakh Pakistani Bangalees intend to visit Bangladesh every year, the social connection between two counties will be gradually improve that suffered during the last 15 years.

Emphasis on trade issues 

The trade between two countries is hovering around 800-900 million US dollars, less the potentials both countries hold, said a Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) director.

The Bangladesh high commission in Islamabad and the mission in Karachi squeezed the issuance of the visas to Pakistani civilians and business leaders on security and strategic grounds, said some Mofa officials and Bangladesh diplomats who worked during 2009-2024 period.

“Unless Bangladesh can issue visa to Pakistani businessmen and civilian at regular speed, the trade potentials will remain low,” said a Mofa official and a FBCCI leader 

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), led by its president Atif Ikram Sheikh, met Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin at the Commerce Ministry Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka recently.

During the meeting, they discussed in detail issues related to bilateral trade between the two countries, simplification of visa procedures, launching of direct flight operations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, and future investment prospects.

Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin emphasised that Pakistani businessmen need to have more dialogue with Bangladeshi businessmen. He said that exploring possible cooperation between them would benefit both countries.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has announced a new visa policy allowing citizens from 126 countries, including Bangladesh, to travel to Pakistan without a visa fee, to enhance diplomatic and people-to-people ties.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmad Maroof, informed about this development to the Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury during a meeting held at the Secretariat, according to a press release.

During the meeting, the high commissioner highlighted that the new visa policy, which was introduced two weeks ago, aims to simplify travel procedures and promote tourism and business between Pakistan and the included countries.

Bangladesh, being one of the 126 nations on the list, stands to benefit from this initiative.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Muhammad Iqbal Hussain Khan announced that direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh are expected to begin within the next few months, adding that this initiative would enhance connectivity and strengthen economic and cultural ties between the two countries.