Foreign Affairs Advisor, Md. Towhid Hossain on Monday said that Bangladesh wants to establish normal relations with Pakistan. He made the statement while speaking at a discussion meeting held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, marking the observance of July Uprising Day.
Advisor Hossain announced that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will arrive in Dhaka on August 23 for a two-day official visit. A bilateral meeting between the two foreign ministers is scheduled for August 24. “The issue of a formal apology from Pakistan and the recovery of dues related to the 1971 Liberation War will be on the agenda,” he said.
He mentioned that Dar’s visit was initially scheduled for April 27–28, but had to be postponed due to heightened India-Pakistan tensions following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir. Several bilateral agreements that were set to be signed during that visit are expected to be discussed during the upcoming trip.
Addressing the issue of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India following her ousting, Hossain admitted that there has been “no progress” in discussions with India regarding her return. “If necessary, international assistance will be sought to bring Sheikh Hasina back from India,” he stated.
On the deteriorating global reputation of Bangladeshi passports, the advisor pointed to internal failures. “We are responsible for the decline in the quality of Bangladeshi passports. Such perfect documents are not forged anywhere else,” he remarked.
Responding to U.S. concerns about militancy in Bangladesh, Hossain assured that the government is serious about tackling the issue. “Bangladesh is committed to suppressing militancy and will take action if any specific information is provided,” he said.
The advisor’s remarks come at a time of renewed diplomatic engagement and regional challenges, with several key issues—both domestic and international—at the center of Bangladesh’s foreign policy efforts.
