ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Bangladesh National Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, following his party’s victory in Bangladesh’s elections.
In a post on X, the premier said he held a conversation with the Bangladesh prime minister hopeful over the phone and expressed Pakistan’s desire “to strengthen its brotherly ties with Bangladesh, build on the legacy of Begum Khaleda Zia, and advance our shared goals of peace, progress and prosperity”.
PM Shehbaz said the successful conduct of elections reflected the democratic values cherished by the Bangladeshi people, state-media reported.
Recalling the historic ties between the two countries, the premier vowed to work closely with Dhaka to deepen bilateral cooperation in all mutually beneficial sectors, while fully respecting each nation’s sovereignty.
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.
President Asif Ali Zardari also extended felicitations to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its leader, Tarique Rahman, on securing a landslide majority in the national elections and receiving the mandate to form the next government. He congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of the polls across 299 seats with the participation of over 127 million registered voters.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s support for the sovereignty and democratic aspirations of Bangladesh, the president said Pakistan looks forward to working with the new government to strengthen cooperation in trade, defence, cultural exchanges and regional forums.
President Zardari said the election in Bangladesh mark an opportunity for South Asia to move beyond past phases in which regional cooperation, including within SAARC was held hostage by India, which continues to paralyse the great forum that was born in Bangladesh in 1985. He expressed the hope that the new political environment in Dhaka would contribute to more balanced, independent and mutually respectful engagement across the region. The president conveyed his best wishes for the continued stability, progress and prosperity of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
During their warm and cordial conversation, the two leaders fondly recalled their recent meetings in Islamabad and Rahim Yar Khan last month, during the UAE President’s first official visit to Pakistan.
The PM lauded the UAE’s consistent and unwavering support to Pakistan that had helped the country navigate through difficult challenges.
This support, the premier said, was a manifestation of the historic, fraternal bonds between the leadership and the people of both countries.
They reaffirmed their shared desire to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE.
The two leaders also exchanged views on other matters of mutual interest and agreed to remain in close contact.
Adds Muhammad Saleh Zaafir: Pakistan will dispatch a high echelon delegation to Dhaka for participating in the oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rehman, when he will take oath of the office of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. No announcement has been made in Dhaka about the schedule of the oath-taking but the sources in that city told The News/Jang on Friday evening that probably the ceremony would take place on February 21.
Sources told this correspondent here that Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar would head the delegation. Additional Foreign Secretary Imran Ahmad Siddiquee, who looks after Asia Pacific region, and some important personalities of various groups would be part of the entourage.
In case Senator Dar doesn’t return from the US, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq or Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif would lead the delegation, the sources hinted. The final decision would be taken in a day, the sources added.
