LAHORE: In a significant development fostering bilateral relations, Pakistanis can now apply for Bangladesh visas online as the Dhaka government has relaxed entry conditions.
The announcement was made by Muhammad Iqbal Khan, the Bangladeshi ambassador to Pakistan, during a visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) over the weekend.
Speaking to LCCI members, Ambassador Khan emphasised the importance of boosting cooperation between the two nations. “Bangladesh is keen on fostering a loving and productive relationship with Pakistan,” he said, urging the LCCI to play a pivotal role in enhancing trade ties.
Visa facilitation measures
The relaxed visa policy comes amid positive diplomatic strides between the two countries. Recent measures include the removal of stringent physical inspections on Pakistani consignments and the abolition of a special security desk for Pakistani travellers at Dhaka airport.
Additionally, new streamlined clearance requirements are expected to ease travel for Pakistani citizens.
Pakistan-Bangladesh ties
Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Bangladesh’s interim leader Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the D-8 summit in Cairo. During the meeting, both leaders underscored the need for joint efforts to explore trade potential in sectors like chemicals, IT, leather goods, and cement clinkers.
Professor Yunus’s administration has already taken proactive steps to boost trade, including the historic establishment of a direct maritime link between Karachi and Chittagong. This resulted in the shipment of 25,000 tonnes of high-quality sugar from Pakistan to Bangladesh, which has traditionally sourced its sugar from India.
Diplomatic exchanges have also intensified. Earlier, PM Shehbaz and Prof Yunus engaged on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, discussing ways to further deepen ties. They agreed on fostering people-to-people contacts and enhancing collaboration in areas like education, arts, and academic exchanges.
Bangladesh's recent policy changes highlight a new chapter of trust and cooperation, paving the way for expanded trade, eased travel, and reinforced ties between the two South Asian neighbours.
Bangladesh and Pakistan share a unique and complex history. After the Partition of British India in 1947, they became one country, with Bangladesh as East Pakistan and Pakistan as West Pakistan, separated by over 1,000 miles of Indian territory. Over time, cultural and political differences grew, leading to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, which resulted in Bangladesh becoming an independent nation. Despite their challenging past, the two countries have worked to strengthen their relationship through trade, diplomacy, and cultural connections.