New Delhi: Bangladesh has formally demanded $4.52 billion from Pakistan, citing its rightful share of pre-1971 assets of undivided Pakistan, including foreign aid, unpaid provident funds and savings instruments. The claim also includes $200 million in foreign aid sent to what was then East Pakistan following the 1970 Bhola cyclone. The devastation caused by the cyclone, coupled with a poor governmental response, had contributed to the rise of the 1971 independence movement.
Bangladesh has also demanded a formal public apology for the “atrocities” committed by Pakistan during the Liberation War.
The issue was raised during the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) held at the state guest house Padma in Dhaka, marking the first such meeting between the two countries in 15 years.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin led the delegation, while Pakistan was represented by Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.
“We raised the historically unresolved issues with Pakistan, including a formal public apology for the atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War by Pakistani forces, as well as the pending financial claims,” Jashim Uddin said after the meeting, according to a report by The Daily Star. “These issues must be resolved in order to establish a solid foundation for our bilateral relations.”
Pakistan has assured Bangladesh that it will remain engaged on the issues raised.
Jashim Uddin also urged his Pakistani counterpart to take steps towards repatriating Pakistani citizens who remain stranded in Bangladesh.
“Those who chose to remain in Bangladesh have been granted citizenship. Some opted to return to Pakistan. So far, 26,941 stranded Pakistanis have been repatriated. According to our records, approximately 324,147 individuals are still residing in 79 camps across 14 districts,” he said.
He also confirmed that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to pay an official visit to Dhaka on 27–28 April. This will mark the first visit by a Pakistani Foreign Minister since 2012.
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Reviving ‘frozen’ ties
During her visit, Pakistan’s foreign secretary held separate meetings with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, during which they discussed matters of mutual interest.
The FOC was attended by Ishrat Jahan, Director General of the South Asia Wing at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the High Commissioners of both nations.
The consultations, initiated by Islamabad, are part of Pakistan’s broader efforts to improve its relations with Dhaka.
On Thursday, Yunus reiterated the importance of strengthening ties with Pakistan to foster mutual cooperation and tap into trade and business opportunities.
Chief Adviser calls for stronger ties with Pakistan
Dhaka, April 17, 2025: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday put the emphasis on strengthening ties with Pakistan to boost mutual cooperation and explore trade and business potentials.
The Chief Adviser made the… pic.twitter.com/u0K5gNiA3b
— Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) April 17, 2025
“There are certain hurdles. We must find ways to overcome them and move forward,” he told Pakistan’s Baloch.
Referring to the past, Baloch said that Bangladesh and Pakistan must find avenues to “harness the potential between the two countries”.
“We have massive intra-regional markets in our own right. We should utilise them. We cannot afford to miss the bus every time,” she said. She also emphasised the need for regular business-to-business interaction between the private sectors of both countries and for exchange visits at all levels.
In January 2025, a delegation from Pakistan’s apex business chamber, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), visited Bangladesh and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI).
The chief adviser said that he has always supported closer ties with neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, within the framework of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
He added that Bangladesh and Pakistan should facilitate more youth and cultural exchange programmes to enhance people-to-people connections.
“We have been missing each other for a long time due to our frozen relations. We must work to overcome these barriers,” he said.
Yunus recalled his meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2024, and in Cairo during the D-8 Summit in December 2024. He described these encounters as pivotal in making progress in bilateral relations. He also affirmed that Bangladesh and Pakistan will continue to collaborate closely at multilateral and regional forums such as SAARC, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the D-8.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
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