Pakistan minister signals PM visit intent as Bangladesh's new government takes office

DHAKA: Pakistan signaled important meetings and an intent to deepen political, economic and regional cooperation with Bangladesh as Islamabad’s senior leadership attends the oath-taking of Dhaka’s incoming government, following a landslide election that reset the country’s power balance and endorsed sweeping constitutional reforms.

Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital in Dhaka on Tuesday, Pakistan Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal said he was representing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at what he described as a “historic democratic transition” in Bangladesh, adding that the Pakistani leader was keen to visit at the earliest opportunity. He also extended an invitation to Tarique Rahman to plan a visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

“I am here to represent the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan at a very historic moment when Bangladesh is making a democratic transition and a new government is being sworn in,” Iqbal said. “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would very much like to visit Bangladesh as early as possible.”

Iqbal said he would meet Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman, and the leader of the opposition, conveying Islamabad’s message of partnership and support.

“We look forward to a new journey between Pakistan and Bangladesh, towards prosperity and stability, not only for our region but for our people,” he said.

Bangladesh’s new government takes office after the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the first competitive vote since the 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule. Final results show the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) securing 209 of 297 declared seats, rising to 212 seats with allies, giving it a commanding parliamentary majority. Voter turnout stood at 59.44%.

‘Twin brothers’ and a regional reset

Framing Pakistan-Bangladesh ties as historically deep and forward-looking, Iqbal described the two countries as “twin brothers,” citing shared civilizational links, similar demographic profiles and parallel development challenges.

“Both Pakistan and Bangladesh are young countries with very similar economic characteristics,” he said. “This gives us a great opportunity to build bridges between our youth and work together to create opportunities.”

Iqbal said Islamabad sees Dhaka as a key partner in reviving regional cooperation, particularly through South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, which he said has long been stalled.

“South Asia is the least regionally integrated region in the world,” he said. “Both Pakistan and Bangladesh can play a very important role in reviving and reactivating SAARC, because regional cooperation is now key to economic progress.”

Founded in 1985, SAARC brings together eight South Asian countries with the stated aim of promoting regional integration through trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties. Despite representing nearly a quarter of the world’s population, intra-regional trade remains below 6%, with political tensions repeatedly stalling summits and initiatives.

Trade, youth and investment

Iqbal said economic ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh remain far below potential, with bilateral trade still under $1 billion, and called for an urgent push to expand commerce, investment and connectivity.

“There is tremendous opportunity to promote trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh,” he said, adding that he would meet Bangladeshi business leaders during the visit and engage with students to strengthen youth-to-youth links.

He highlighted Pakistan’s announcement of 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students, calling it the foundation of a “Bangladesh-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor.”

Shared sovereignty, shared challenges

On foreign policy, Iqbal stressed strategic autonomy and equal sovereignty as guiding principles, drawing parallels between Pakistan’s and Bangladesh’s political trajectories.

“Every country, no matter how small, has equal sovereignty,” he said. “We cannot accept hegemony on the basis of geography or power.”

He said both countries also share vulnerabilities to climate change, water security challenges and the need to build economic resilience, arguing that cooperation in climate adaptation, technology and skills development should be priorities.

"Both countries would like to see that international conventions for water should be respected. Recently, India has weaponized water from a controversial region. Which is not India, it occupied Jammu and Kashmir. And from there, it is weaponizing water. I think Bangladesh also would be closely watching these developments"

Cultural bridges and Iqbal Academy

Beyond economics and diplomacy, Iqbal pointed to cultural and intellectual links, proposing the revival of an Iqbal Academy in Bangladesh ahead of the 150th birth anniversary of philosopher-poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal next year.

“Iqbal is a common bridge between our people,” he said. “He gave South Asian Muslims a sense of identity and hope during colonial rule.”

With Bangladesh’s new government taking office on the back of a strong electoral mandate and a voter-endorsed reform charter, both sides framed the moment as an opportunity to reset ties on pragmatic, forward-looking lines.

“We are not authors of the bitter past,” Iqbal said. “We are custodians of the future. History will judge us by the path we choose now.”