Pakistan鈥檚 deputy prime minister and foreign minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar on Sunday held a courtesy meeting with Bangladesh鈥檚 former prime minister and BNP chair Khaleda Zia who is currently ailing.
During the meeting, Ishaq Dar, along with a six-member delegation, inquired about Khaleda Zia鈥檚 health and wished her a speedy recovery.
The two leaders discussed the issues of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan, SAARC and regional cooperation, international collaboration, and the recent floods in Pakistan.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member AZM Zahid Hossain were present during the meeting that was held at Khaleda Zia鈥檚 Gulshan residence, Firoza.
Following the meeting, Zahid told reporters that the discussions focused solely on the BNP chair鈥檚 health, with no political matters addressed.
The meeting also touched upon SAARC-related matters, with both sides reminiscing about its early days, he said.
According to Zahid, the BNP chair recalled the circumstances during the SAARC announcement, her Pakistan visit, and the subsequent visit of Pakistan president to Bangladesh, along with the involvement of the late president Ziaur Rahman.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of normalising relations between the peoples of both countries and working together on international platforms for mutual benefit, he said.
Zahid said that the delegation praised the positive trajectory of Bangladesh鈥檚 political environment, noting that it was moving towards a more favourable climate for the country鈥檚 future.
The delegation also conveyed good wishes to Khaleda Zia on behalf of Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari, prime minister Shahbaz Sharif, and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Earlier, on the day, Ishaq Dar visited the residence of the of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami amir Shafiqur Rahman, who was recovering after a cardiac surgery.
The Pakistan minister conveyed, on behalf of the prime minister of Pakistan and himself, his best wishes for Shafiqur Rahman鈥檚 good health and a speedy recovery.
