Diplomatic Correspondent: One agreement and four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between Dhaka and Islamabad following a meeting between Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar. In addition, a programme was also signed.

The meeting was held on Sunday (24 August) at a hotel in the capital. It began with a one-on-one discussion between the adviser and the foreign minister, followed by a delegation-level meeting. The MoUs, agreement, and programme were signed afterward in the presence of Touhid and Ishaq.

The agreement provides visa exemptions for holders of official and diplomatic passports.

The MoUs include the formation of a joint working group on trade, promotion of cultural exchanges, cooperation between foreign service academies, partnership between the state news agencies, and collaboration on research and policy between the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and Pakistan’s Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).

It is expected that the agreement and MoUs to help strengthen bilateral relations, boost trade, and promote cultural and academic exchanges between the two countries.