Bangladesh and Pakistan in a foreign minister-level bilateral meeting in Dhaka on Sunday resolved to take forward their ‘multidimensional relations’ and agreed to discuss again the contentious issues between the two countries for a solution.Â
Dhaka once again called for a formal apology for the atrocities perpetrated by the Pakistani occupation forces during the War of Independence in 1971 and for the return of Bangladesh’s due share of its pre-independence assets and foreign aid while Pakistan claimed that the historic issue of 1971 was resolved twice — first in 1974 and second in 2002.
Besides, in the discussions on further cooperation in trade and investment, connectivity, and other areas, it also demanded the repatriation of more than 3.2 lakh stranded Pakistanis living at 27 camps in 14 districts of Bangladesh since its independence.
‘We have resolved to work together to take forward our multidimensional relations with Pakistan,’ said foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the city after the meeting with his Pakistan counterpart Muhammad Ishaq Dar at a city hotel.
About the unresolved historical issues, he said that Bangladesh once again raised its position — asking Pakistan to apologise for committing genocide in Bangladesh during the 1971 liberation war, to return the due asset share to Bangladesh, and to take back stranded Pakistanis from Bangladesh.
Asked whether he agreed with Ishaq Dar’s remarks that the 1971 issues were already settled, the foreign adviser said, ‘Certainly not. And that’s why we have raised the issue of genocide again for a formal apology and they have presented their stance.’
Touhid, however, said that they had agreed to discuss the unresolved issues again from their respective positions and advance their bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, a visa-related agreement and five memorandums of understanding in various areas were signed between the two nations in the meeting where Pakistan deputy prime minister and foreign minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar led his delegation while Bangladesh foreign adviser Touhid Hossain led his side.
Responding to a question, Ishaq Dar told reporters at the meeting venue that the historical issue was resolved twice — first in 1974, the document of which was available, and later in 2002 when Pakistan’s then prime minister Pervez Musharraf visited Bangladesh.
He said that Pervez Musharraf very openly and candidly addressed the issue on behalf of Pakistan to the entire people of Bangladesh.
‘As for the unresolved issues, I want to say that the matter was first settled in 1974. The document of that time is historic for both countries. Later, General Pervez Musharraf came here and openly and candidly resolved the matter. So, the issue has been resolved twice – once in 1974 and again in the early 2000s.’
Referring to Islamic teachings, he said that someone had to be clean at heart and have a clean start before anything.
The Pakistan foreign minister said that they had agreed to work together to reach a new height in economic cooperation among other areas.
He, however, did not say anything specific about Bangladesh’s demand for the return of its asset share and the repatriation of the stranded Pakistanis.
Touhid, however, said that Bangladesh wanted usual relations with Pakistan and nothing more.Â
He said that the previous regime had intentionally held back the bilateral relations with Pakistan. Â
Touhid, also a retired diplomat, said that regarding the stranded people, there was a High Court verdict. ‘Migration experts have long been urging a solution in light of that ruling. We will hold further discussions on this matter in the future,’ he said, adding that it was not appropriate to expect that the issues unresolved for 54 years would be solved in an hour of meeting held around after 13 years.
Visiting Pakistan’s commerce minister Jam Kamal Khan, who came to Dhaka on a four-day visit on Wednesday, also joined the bilateral meeting.
Paksitan foreign minister Ishaq Dar, who arrived in Dhaka on Saturday on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh, also called on interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his official residence state guest house Jamuna later on the day.
Besides, an agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on ‘the Abolition of Visa for the Nationals of Their Countries Holding Diplomatic and Official Passports, five MoUs were signed separately between the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha and the Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation, between the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the Establishment of Joint Working Group on Trade and Cultural Exchange Programme between the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the Calendar Years 2025-2028, between the Foreign Service Academy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Foreign Service Academy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and another MoU for cooperation between the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies and Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Both Dhaka and Islamabad have appeared keen on enhancing the bilateral relations after Bangladesh’s interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus took over in the past year following the fall of Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5, 2024 amid a mass uprising.
The Pakistan foreign minister’s previous schedule to visit Bangladesh in April 27-28 was cancelled amid escalating tension between Islamabad and New Delhi over a deadly attack in India-administered Kashmir.
The visit was officially announced after the sixth Foreign Office Consultation between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dhaka on April 17, after 15 years.
Pakistan foreign secretary Amna Baloch led the Pakistan side in the foreign secretary-level meeting with her then Bangladesh counterpart Md Jasim Uddin at the state guest house Padma in Dhaka, where they finalised the agenda for the foreign minister-level talks in Dhaka.
The last ministerial-level visit from the Pakistan side took place in November 2012, when then foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar visited Dhaka to invite Bangladesh’s then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina to the D-8 summit in Islamabad.