Online Report : Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus emphasized the need to strengthen relations with Pakistan to enhance mutual cooperation and explore trade and business opportunities.

Yunus made these remarks during a meeting with Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch at the State Guest House Jamuna, marking the first visit of a Pakistani foreign secretary to Bangladesh in 15 years.

“There are certain hurdles we need to overcome, but we must find ways to move forward,” Yunus told Baloch.

Acknowledging past challenges, Baloch agreed that Bangladesh and Pakistan should focus on unlocking their potential for collaboration. "We have huge potential in our internal market, and we shouldn’t miss the opportunities for cooperation,” she said, stressing the importance of regular business-to-business (B2B) interactions and exchanges between the private sectors of both countries.

In January 2025, a delegation from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) visited Bangladesh and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI).

Baloch expressed optimism about the upcoming visit of Pakistan`s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar at the end of April, which she hopes will further strengthen the bilateral ties.

Professor Yunus reiterated his preference for closer ties with neighboring countries, particularly within the framework of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). He suggested that increasing cultural and youth exchange programs between the two nations would foster stronger people-to-people connections.

“Our relationship has been frozen for too long, and we must overcome the barriers,” Yunus said, reflecting on his past meetings with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in New York and Cairo in 2024. These interactions, he said, were key to advancing bilateral relations.

Yunus also noted that Bangladesh and Pakistan will continue to work together in multilateral forums like SAARC, the OIC, and the D-8.

Senior Secretary on SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed and Pakistan`s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof, were also present at the meeting.