Pak-BD reset

As a Biman commercial carrier touched down the tarmac of Karachi airport, it was history in the making. Both the countries have resumed their aviation links after a hiatus of 14 years, marked by geopolitical and bilateral somersaults. The reset was realised as an outcome of Awami League's exit from power. The ousted regime of Shaikh Hasina had furthered the sense of otherness with Pakistan to new heights – at the behest of New Delhi.

The new political aura of Bangladesh, in conjunction with Islamabad's desire, is interested in writing a new prologue of bilateralism. The need of the hour is to expand bilateral cooperation to new heights, and see to it that it comes to contribute to regional amalgamation through the revival of the defunct SAARC.

The agenda at hand for governments in both countries is to strengthen connectivity and bilateral engagement by promoting tourism and broadening people-to-people contacts. The decision to ease the visa regime is a step in positivity, and must walk the talk. Collaboration between chambers of commerce as well as exploring cultural plateaus, especially in the avenues of education and entertainment, are indispensable measures to cement cordiality. This would be a leap forward in burying the hatchet of truncation in 1971. The least that is desired is to revisit the chapter of abandoned Biharis in the then East Pakistan, and address their identity grievances in a composite manner, and indulge in some necessary political-correction.

A year of engagement between Dhaka and Islamabad has fomented promising signs for the future. The volume of trade has increased by 20% and several new accords in the realms of technology, industry and medical science are paving the way for a robust relationship that is people-inspired and organic to the core. This new understanding should, however, be free from neighbour-centric concerns. At the same time, the new paradigm under consideration to create a South Asian entity free from Indian hegemony must go ahead, to realise geo-economics, peace and prosperity to its maximum.