A new dawn for Pakistan-Bangladesh bilateral relations after 15 years

After a prolonged diplomatic freeze, Pakistan and Bangladesh have embarked on a promising path of rapprochement, marked by high-level engagements, maritime breakthroughs, trade revitalization, and military cooperation. The evolving geopolitical climate in South Asia, especially after the Indo-Pakistan War of 2025, has created new opportunities for strategic realignment.

The diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh has long been shaped by the traumatic events of 1971 when East Pakistan seceded to become Bangladesh with India’s military backing. Since then, the ties between the two nations have remained fraught with mistrust, historical grievances, and political sensitivities. However, 2024 and 2025 witnessed unprecedented shifts in the regional landscape—ushering in renewed bilateral engagements between Islamabad and Dhaka.

Following the student-led ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 and the rise of interim leadership in Dhaka under Mohammad Yunus, a new window has opened for Pakistan–Bangladesh cooperation. In this transformed context, diplomatic dialogues, defence exchanges, and economic initiatives have begun to reshape a relationship that has long been overshadowed by history. One of the most symbolic developments was the arrival of a Pakistani cargo ship at Chittagong Port in February 2025—the first such docking since the 1971 war—signaling a significant shift toward greater connectivity and cooperation.

Historical Context and Diplomatic Stagnation

Pakistan and Bangladesh share religious, linguistic, and cultural links rooted in a shared pre-1971 history. Despite sporadic efforts at reconciliation, including Pakistan’s recognition of Bangladesh in 1974 and intermittent trade and diplomatic interactions, relations mainly remained symbolic. Sheikh Hasina’s long tenure from 2009 to 2024 solidified Bangladesh’s pro-India orientation, with Dhaka prioritizing ties with New Delhi in trade, defense, and infrastructure.

In 2022, Bangladesh denied permission for the Chinese-built Pakistan Navy ship PNS Taimur to dock at Chattogram Port, citing diplomatic sensitivities—a reflection of the enduring frost in bilateral relations. Until 2024, there had been no Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) or direct maritime links for nearly two decades.

Maritime Breakthrough: First Pakistani Cargo Ship Docks in Bangladesh

In November 2024, a cargo vessel from Karachi docked at Bangladesh’s Chittagong port for the first time in over five decades. This historic event marked the restoration of a direct maritime link between the two nations, which had been severed since 1971.

The Pakistan High Commission in Bangladesh celebrated the event as a significant diplomatic milestone, citing its potential to streamline supply chains, reduce transit times, and energize bilateral commerce. High Commissioner Syed Ahmed Maroof emphasized the growing demand for direct trade, proposing more shipping links to strengthen economic and cultural ties.

Bangladeshi interim Prime Minister Mohammad Yunus echoed these sentiments during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024. “This maritime link is essential for reviving our relations,” Yunus said, calling for “a new page” in Pakistan–Bangladesh ties. The docking of the cargo ship is now viewed as the first tangible step in bridging the historical divide and revitalizing South-South trade dynamics in South Asia.

Strategic Thaw and Diplomatic Re-engagement (2024–2025)

A Diplomatic Reset

Despite deep-rooted religious, linguistic, and cultural ties stemming from a unified past before 1971, Pakistan-Bangladesh relations remained largely symbolic after the formalization of diplomatic ties in 1974. From 2009 to 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s staunchly pro-India foreign policy left minimal space for substantive engagement with Islamabad. However, the bilateral relationship now seems poised for a diplomatic reset. In December 2024, a significant milestone was achieved on the sidelines of the D-8 Summit in Cairo, where Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The meeting, held in a cordial and forward-looking atmosphere, underscored the goodwill and fraternal spirit underpinning the bilateral relationship.

Prime Minister Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to deepening ties with Bangladesh, highlighting the shared historical, religious, and cultural linkages between the two countries. He expressed a desire to enhance cooperation in trade, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural diplomacy. Stressing the untapped potential of economic collaboration, he proposed exploring joint ventures in sectors such as chemicals, cement, and the rapidly growing IT industry, as well as the production of surgical and leather goods.

The Prime Minister also welcomed Bangladesh’s recent trade facilitation measures, including the removal of the 100% physical inspection requirement on Pakistani consignments, the abolishment of the special security desk at Dhaka airport for Pakistani travelers, and the streamlining of visa procedures for Pakistani applicants. These steps, he noted, pave the way for smoother bilateral exchanges and renewed trust.

Both leaders acknowledged the importance of fostering closer people-to-people connections, with a particular emphasis on the exchange of artists, athletes, academics, and students. They welcomed recent cultural and sporting engagements, including the visit of the Bangladesh Cricket Team to Pakistan and a concert by a Pakistani artist in Dhaka—symbolic gestures of thawing relations and growing mutual appreciation.

“The past is the past—we don’t want to remain stuck there,” stated Syed Ahmed Maroof, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, signaling a desire to move beyond historical grievances toward a future based on mutual respect and shared aspirations. Maroof acknowledged the limited engagement in recent years, attributing it not to negligence but to differing governmental priorities and a more reserved approach from Dhaka toward the High Commission of Pakistan. Still, he emphasized that ties were never completely severed, citing continued cooperation in multilateral settings such as the United Nations where both nations extended support when their interests aligned. “What’s changed now is the convergence,” he noted. “We’re seeing alignment in our political, economic, and cultural priorities, which opens the door for a more stable and forward-looking partnership.”

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Foreign Office Consultations Resumed

In March 2025, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch visited Dhaka for the first Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in 15 years. Her Bangladeshi counterpart, Jashim Uddin, warmly received the delegation. Integral discussions centered on trade, visa facilitation, regional security, and educational exchanges.

Economic Revitalization and Rice Trade

In early 2025, Pakistan finalized a government-to-government (G2G) agreement to export 50,000 tones of rice to Bangladesh, signaling trust and cooperation. This was a notable achievement given the food security challenges both countries face amid climate volatility.

A Pakistan-Bangladesh Business Council was also launched in Dhaka in March 2025, with central chambers from Lahore, Karachi, and Dhaka exploring investment and textile collaborations.

Defense and Military Cooperation

In January 2025, Lt. Gen. S. M. Kamr-ul-Hassan, Bangladesh’s Principal Staff Officer, visited Pakistan and met with the Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu. Pakistan’s military stated Hassan and Munir both agreed during the meeting that their countries must remain resilient against “external influences.” The visit led to important agreements on joint military training, officer exchanges, and potential collaboration on indigenous defense technologies, including Bangladesh’s interest in Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter aircraft.

These developments signify a new trajectory in military diplomacy that was previously non-existent due to Dhaka’s sensitivity to India’s strategic preferences.

Bangladesh’s Support in the Indo-Pakistan War (2025)

The Indo-Pakistan War of 2025, ignited by skirmishes in Kashmir and India’s aggressive posturing in Ladakh, reshaped regional alignments. While most South Asian states remained neutral, Bangladesh’s posture was notably measured and tactically supportive of Pakistan:

• Dhaka refused India’s request to issue a joint condemnation of Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council.
• Bangladesh supported Pakistan’s humanitarian corridor proposal, voting in favor of a resolution at the OIC condemning Indian strikes on civilian areas in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
• Regional security sources reported that Bangladesh discreetly shared maritime intelligence with Pakistan regarding India’s naval maneuvers in the Bay of Bengal.

This subtle diplomatic shift underscored Dhaka’s evolving foreign policy under Chief Adviser Yunus, marking Bangladesh’s first strategic tilt away from India since its independence in 1971.

Opportunities for Future Cooperation

With diplomatic normalization underway, Pakistan and Bangladesh now have a rare opportunity to build a forward-looking partnership. Critical areas for collaboration include:

Trade and Connectivity

• Develop regional value chains in the textiles and pharmaceutical industries.
• Establish direct shipping lines between Chittagong, Karachi, and Gwadar.
• Initiate currency swap agreements to reduce dollar dependency in bilateral trade.

Defense and Strategic Dialogue

• Institutionalize an Annual Defense Dialogue.
• Launch joint counter-terrorism training in border security and urban warfare.
• Explore the co-production of small arms and communication systems.

Cultural and Educational Diplomacy

• Revive Urdu-Bangla translation projects, student exchanges, and media cooperation.
• Create a Pakistan–Bangladesh Youth Diplomats Forum to foster future leadership.

Climate and Health Collaboration

• Joint research on flood mitigation, monsoon forecasting, and deltaic erosion.
• Expand collaboration in health diplomacy, focusing on cancer, pandemic and climate-sensitive diseases.

Recommendations

• Institutionalize Ties: Establish a permanent Pakistan–Bangladesh Joint Commission, chaired by foreign ministers.
• Annual Leadership Summits: Alternate summit-level meetings to maintain momentum.
• Diplomatic Expansion: Upgrade embassies to include trade and cultural consulates.
• Educational Corridor: Announce bilateral scholarships and research fellowships in climate, health, and innovation.
• Track-II Diplomacy: Support dialogue between think tanks, civil society, and academic networks.

Conclusion

The recent maritime, diplomatic, and defense breakthroughs between Pakistan and Bangladesh represent more than symbolic gestures—they mark a profound shift in South Asian diplomacy. For the first time since 1971, the two countries are charting a course based on pragmatism, connectivity, and mutual respect. The docking of the Pakistani cargo ship at Chittagong, the resumption of defense exchanges, and Bangladesh’s nuanced stance during the Indo-Pakistan War of 2025 collectively signify a new era of cooperation.

This evolving relationship, if nurtured with consistency and mutual interest, can transform the region’s geopolitical landscape—bringing stability, economic prosperity, and a much-needed model of reconciliation diplomacy in South Asia.