Pakistan, BD to work closely amid thaw in ties

In a significant development, Pakistan and Bangladesh on Friday established a contact at the highest level, rekindling hopes of potential thaw in the bilateral relations that remained at the lowest during Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule.

Following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's letter to the head of Bangladesh's interim government, the two leaders on Friday spoke by telephone, expressing desire to improve the relationship.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister's office said Premier Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Bangladesh government's chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

This was first high-level contact between the two countries after many years as ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina never tried to mend ties with Pakistan as she repeatedly rebutted Islamabad's overtures.

But since her ouster following weeks of violent protests, contacts have been re-established between the two countries. The Pakistani High Commissioner to Dhaka reportedly thrice met with Professor Yunus while the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and Bangladesh also held talks at the sidelines of the recent OIC conference.

During the conversation, Prime Minister Shehbaz congratulated Professor Muhammad Yunus on assuming the office of Chief Adviser, and lauded his contribution to the socio-economic development of Bangladesh. He expressed sympathies over the devastation caused by the recent floods in Bangladesh.

The prime minister underscored the importance of revitalizing bilateral relations through enhanced cooperation in different domains. Noting the historical, religious and cultural bonds between Pakistan and Bangladesh, the prime minister expressed his keen desire to boost commercial relations, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.

Both the leaders agreed that there was a need to work closely for progress and prosperity of the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh. They further agreed that greater regional cooperation could play a vital role in uplifting the lives of the people of South Asia.

Professor Muhammad Yunus thanked the Prime Minister for the telephone call.

Earlier in a letter addressed to Bangladesh chief adviser on August 23, Prime Minister Shehbaz offered Bangladesh all possible assistance in the wake of the ongoing floods that have caused widespread devastation including displacement of millions of people.

Pakistan's outreach comes at a time when Bangladesh is undergoing major political transition after the unceremonious exit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month as a result of mass movement against his 15-year autocratic rule.

Relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh went from bad to worse during her tenure as she repeatedly rebuffed peace overtures from Islamabad while sought to deepen ties with India.

Following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid, there seems an opening for a potential reset in the troubled relationship between the two countries.