Amid widespread protests by students and citizens, Sheikh Hasina was ousted from her position as prime minister of Bangladesh and fled to India at the beginning of August last year.
This dramatic political upheaval has paved the way for improved relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
In this context, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to visit Bangladesh next month on an official invitation, a visit that is being hailed as a landmark in diplomatic relations, Pakistani media outlet The Express Tribune reported on Friday (3 January).
According to the report, Ishaq Dar's visit signifies a pivotal step towards fostering warmer ties between the two nations, following the removal of the pro-India government in Bangladesh last year.
The forthcoming visit will be the first by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh since 2012.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Ishaq Dar stated that he would visit Dhaka in February at the invitation of Bangladesh’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Touhid Hossain.
During the briefing, Dar discussed key foreign policy developments, the government’s achievements, and future challenges.
The Pakistani foreign minister also confirmed that Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, has accepted Pakistan's invitation to visit Islamabad at a mutually agreed date, further indicating a thaw in bilateral relations.
The last visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh was in 2012, when Hina Rabbani Khar travelled to Dhaka to invite Sheikh Hasina Wajed, then Prime Minister, to the D-8 Summit of Developing Muslim Countries.
Under Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure, marked by her party's alignment with India, relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan remained tense. Despite repeated overtures from Pakistan, Hasina did not reciprocate efforts to enhance ties.
However, following her ousting in a bloody public uprising last August, relations between the two nations have improved significantly, with progress being made at the highest levels.
Bangladesh has also lifted restrictions on Pakistani goods, allowing for bilateral trade growth, and direct sea trade between the two countries has commenced.
During the press conference, Ishaq Dar described Bangladesh as a "brotherly nation" and assured that Pakistan would extend all possible support to Dhaka.
This renewed camaraderie comes amidst a backdrop of strategic advancements and mutual cooperation, underscoring a new chapter in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations.
