Dhaka (TDI): In a development that signals warming ties between the two South Asian nations, Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed in principle to allow visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
The understanding was reached during a meeting in Dhaka between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh’s Home Minister, Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. Naqvi, who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, was in the Bangladeshi capital to attend the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) event but took time out for official talks, according to The Express Tribune.
The meeting comes amid a noticeable thaw in relations between the two countries, particularly since the departure of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government in August 2023. With the end of her 15-year rule, diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Dhaka has picked up pace.
Minister Naqvi’s trip is seen as part of broader efforts to build momentum in this new chapter. His visit follows a string of bilateral contacts, though a planned visit by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar earlier this year was postponed due to rising Pakistan-India tensions.
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Ties between the two countries had grown tense during Sheikh Hasina’s rule, with Pakistani diplomats under close watch and trade shipments often hitting roadblocks. Bangladeshi authorities had placed unofficial restrictions on certain imports, making it harder for Pakistani goods to reach the market. Since the interim government took over, however, many of those hurdles have reportedly been lifted, creating space for both sides to reconnect.
During their meeting, the ministers talked about ways to work together on internal security. The agenda also included tackling terrorism, drug smuggling, and illegal human trafficking. Both sides showed interest in organizing joint police training and exchange visits between their respective academies in the near future.
A joint coordination committee will be established to drive cooperation forward. It will be headed on Pakistan’s side by Federal Interior Secretary Khurram Agha. Bangladesh is expected to send a high-level delegation to visit Pakistan’s National Police Academy in the coming weeks.
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Naqvi was welcomed with a guard of honour at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Home Minister Chowdhury described the visit as “highly important” for reshaping ties between the two nations. He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s offer to train Bangladeshi police officers.
Also present at the meeting were Bangladesh’s State Minister for Home Affairs Khuda Bakhsh, Home Secretary Nasim Al-Ghani, and other senior officials. Representing Pakistan were Charge d’Affaires Muhammad Wasif, Political Counsellor Kamran Dehingal, and members of the interior ministry.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
