Pakistan Bangladesh Relations Shehbaz Sharif Bangladesh Elections Tarique Rahman South Asia Politics
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during a call with BNP leader Tarique Rahman, signaling renewed diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
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PM Shehbaz invites Bangladesh PM-hopeful, pledges stronger ties

PM Shehbaz invites BNP leader Tarique Rahman as Bangladesh elections usher stability and renewed hopes for stronger Pakistan-Bangladesh relations ties

By Fahad

PM Pakistan – (Web Desk) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday invited Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman to visit Pakistan on an official trip, following his party’s victory in Bangladesh’s general elections.

In a message shared on X, the prime minister said he spoke with the Bangladesh prime minister hopeful by phone and conveyed Pakistan’s wish to deepen its brotherly relationship with Bangladesh. He highlighted the importance of building on the legacy of former premier Begum Khaleda Zia while working together to promote peace, progress and prosperity.

The BNP secured a commanding two-thirds majority in Friday’s polls, a result widely seen as a step toward stability after months of unrest triggered by the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina during a Gen Z-led uprising.

PM Shehbaz noted that the smooth conduct of the elections reflected the democratic spirit of the Bangladeshi people, according to state media reports.

Referring to the longstanding ties between the two nations, the premier reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to closely cooperate with Dhaka across all mutually beneficial areas, while fully respecting each other’s sovereignty.

Both leaders also paid tribute to Begum Khaleda Zia, recognizing her key role in strengthening Pakistan-Bangladesh relations and fostering closer people-to-people ties.

PM Shehbaz invited Rahman to visit Pakistan soon, to which the BNP leader responded warmly by extending an invitation for the premier to visit Bangladesh.

Both leaders agreed to maintain close contact in the coming days to work for the welfare of their peoples.

Latest counts in an election, seen as the South Asian nation’s first truly competitive in years, gave the BNP and its allies at least 212 of the 299 seats up for grabs, Bangladesh’s domestic TV channels said.

The opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies won 70 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation.

The BNP, which returns to power after 20 years, thanked the people soon after winning a majority in the overnight vote count and called for special prayers on Friday for the nation and its people.

“Despite winning … by a large margin of votes, no celebratory procession or rally shall be organised,” the party said in a statement calling for prayers nationwide.

A clear outcome had been seen as key for stability in the Muslim-majority nation of 175 million after months of deadly anti-Hasina unrest disrupted everyday life and industries such as garments, in the export of which Bangladesh is No.2 globally.

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BNP leader Tarique Rahman is widely expected to be sworn in as prime minister. The son of the party’s founder, former president Ziaur Rahman, he returned in December to the capital, Dhaka, from 18 years abroad.

Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, 85, held office as interim head after Hasina fled to neighbouring India in August 2024.

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