 | |
 Pakistan |  Bangladesh |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| High Commission of Pakistan, Islamabad | High Commission of Bangladesh, Dhaka |
| Envoy | |
| High Commissioner Syed Ahmed Maroof | High Commissioner Md. Iqbal Hussain Khan |
Bangladesh andPakistan are both South Asian Muslim-majority countries.[1][2] Following theend of British rule in India, the two countries formed asingle state for 24 years.[3] TheBangladesh Liberation War in 1971 resulted in the secession ofEast Pakistan as the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Pakistan (formerlyWest Pakistan) recognized Bangladesh in 1974 during theIslamic Summit inLahore,[4] however relations between the two countries still remained relatively tense until the 2024July Revolution in Bangladesh which resulted in the overthrow ofSheikh Hasina and the establishment of anew administration inDhaka that sought to normalize ties with Pakistan, moving away from decades of strained relations rooted in the events of the 1971 Liberation War.[5]
The two countries are both founding members ofSAARC, as well as members of theDeveloping 8 Countries, theOIC and theCommonwealth of Nations. Both are classified asNext Eleven emerging economies. Bangladesh has aHigh Commission in Islamabad andDeputy High Commission in Karachi. Pakistan has a High Commission inDhaka.
In the aftermath of the July Revolution, both countries initiated a series of high-level diplomatic exchanges, reopened stalled trade negotiations, and signaled a willingness to enhance cooperation in areas such as regional security, cultural exchange, and economic development. Observers noted that this rapprochement marked the most substantial improvement in bilateral relations since the 1970s, with both sides emphasizing reconciliation, diplomacy, and a shared interest in stability acrossSouth Asia.
When the East India Companyconquered Punjab in 1849, a substantial portion of its Indian staff that settled around Lahore was Bengali.[6]
As part of thePartition of India in 1947,Bengal waspartitioned between theDominion of India and theDominion of Pakistan. The Pakistani part of Bengal was known asEast Bengal until 1955 and thereafter asEast Pakistan following the implementation of theOne Unit program.
Bilateral relations between the two wings grew strained over the lack of official recognition for theBengali language, democracy, regional autonomy, disparity between the two wings, ethnic discrimination, and the central government's weak and inefficient relief efforts after the1970 Bhola cyclone, which had affected millions in East Pakistan. These grievances led to several political agitations in East Bengal and ultimately a fight for full independence. In early March 1971, 300 Biharis were slaughtered in rioting by Bengali mobs inChittagong. The massacre was used by thePakistan Armed Forces as a justification to launch "Operation Searchlight", which targeted intellectuals, political activists,Hindus and other minorities.[7] The number of people killed by Pakistani forces remains disputed, with estimates ranging from 300,000 to 3 million.[8][9] About 8–10 million people became refugees in India.[10] Many Bengali policemen and soldiers mutinied and nationalists formed a guerrilla force, theMukti Bahini with Soviet and Indian support.
When theIndo-Pakistani war of 1971 broke out between West Pakistan and India, the joint forces of India and Mukti Bahini (later known as the Bangladesh Armed forces) defeated Pakistani forces in East Pakistan. Subsequently, the independent state of Bangladesh was created.[11]
Theleft-orientedPakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led byZulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had been the main political opponent ofSheikh Mujibur Rahman, came intopower in the aftermath of Bangladesh's separation from Pakistan. Initially, Pakistan was not in favor of recognizing Bangladesh and urged other states to hold back their recognition until Pakistan could enter into a dialogue with Bangladeshi leadership. Bangladesh, on its part, insisted on recognition as a pre-condition for dialogue. In 1972, Pakistan left theCommonwealth after some members of the Commonwealth extended membership to Bangladesh. Pakistan also severed ties with other countries which recognized Bangladesh.[12][13]
On the issue of Bangladesh's application for membership to the UN, China, on Pakistan's request, exercised its veto power for the first time to stall the move, which helped Pakistan to secure in a bargain the release of itsprisoners of war and the return of troops to their pre-war positions.[14]
In 1974, the relationship between Bangladesh and Pakistan thawed. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman withdrew the bans on some pro-Pakistan organisations, that had operated before Bangladesh's independence. Mujib visitedLahore for anOIC Islamic summit, and in return, theParliament of Pakistan authorized Bhutto to extend recognition to Bangladesh.[15] In June 1974, Pakistani Prime MinisterZulfiqar Ali Bhutto visited Bangladesh and paid homage to Bangladesh'swar memorial atSavar.[16] Both nations discussed an agreement in 1975 in which Bangladesh agreed to take up half of Pakistan's pre-1971 external reserves provided Bangladesh received half of the country's pre-1971 assets and credit. The matter went unresolved.[17]
Relations normalized quite under the governments ofZiaur Rahman andHussain Muhammad Ershad in Bangladesh, which had grown more distant from its usual allies, like India and Russia.[17][18] Five Pakistani heads of government have made official visits to Bangladesh since the 1980s and numerous trade and cultural agreements have been signed.[19] Common concerns over terrorism have influenced strategic cooperation leading to a gift of severalsquadrons ofF-6 fighter aircraft to theBangladesh Air Force in the late 1980s, Although, there was no serious effort to maintain them as they were later left to be destroyed by a cyclone.[19] Trade between the two countries stood at $340 million in 2010, which was described by the deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh, Ruhul Alam Siddique as "negligible when you take in to account the combined population" of the two countries. Areas he hoped would induce investment from Pakistan to Bangladesh included the textiles and energy sectors.[20]
In 1985, Pakistani PresidentMuhammad Zia-ul-Haq visited the Bangladeshi war memorial, and said "Your heroes are our heroes."[16] Bangladeshi President Ershad visited Islamabad in 1986.[17] In 1998, Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina visited Pakistan.[16] In July 2002, Pakistani GeneralPervez Musharraf also visited the war memorial and said "Your brothers and sisters in Pakistan share the pain of the events of 1971."[16]
However, relationships suffered miserably under first term ofKhaleda Zia in 1991 to 1996, who oversaw the deportation of 30,000 Biharis from Bangladesh. During an India–Pakistan cricket match, several Biharis were killed for supporting Pakistan and Pakistani flags were burned. Khaleda Zia refused to take in Bengalis returning from Pakistan.[21]
In his history of Bangladesh,Craig Baxter gives a general assessment of the relations between both countries:
As united Pakistan, both the countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh had sought independence from India in 1947 because they were concerned about the progress and security of Muslims in a Hindu majority state. As separate countries they continue to share a community of interests in limiting the dominance of India as well as a common Islamic position.[22]
In December 2013,Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Islamist leaderAbdul Quader Molla, dubbed the "butcher of Mirpur",[23] was executed in Bangladesh for war crimes.[24] Following the execution, thelower houseNational Assembly of Pakistan issued a statement condemning execution, claiming it to be politically motivated.[25] Pakistan'sInterior Minister expressed sadness that Molla was executed for his "loyalty towards Pakistan".[26]
As a result of Pakistan's reactions, Bangladesh summoned the Pakistani High Commissioner, conveying its displeasure at Pakistan's interference in its internal matters.[25] Bangladesh conveyed its displeasure at the National Assembly statement, Punjab Provincial Assembly statement, as well as the remarks by Pakistan's Interior Minister.[27] Protesters in Bangladesh also took to the streets to express their displeasure by marching towards the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka.[28]
In two separate incidents, officials of the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka were alleged to be financing the terrorist activities of the bannedJamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh organization. Diplomatic officialMazhar Khan was charged by Bangladesh's foreign ministry of running an illegal Indian currency business in Dhaka beside alleged links with militants.[29] However, Pakistan's foreign office maintains that allegations against him are baseless and the incident is unfortunate.[30]
In December 2015, Pakistan withdrew the diplomatFarina Arshad after Bangladeshi authorities asked the diplomat to leave for reportedly having "extended financial support to a suspected militant who faces spying charges".[31] Jama 'Atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operative Idris Sheikh, who also holds Pakistani nationality, had claimed he had received money from her and was in contact with her for some time.[32] Pakistan has withdrawn one of its diplomats from Bangladesh after "harassment", the foreign ministry said. A formal statement from Islamabad dismissed the charges as "baseless", adding "an incessant and orchestrated media campaign was launched against her on spurious charges".[33]
In January 2016, Islamabad asked Dhaka to recall senior diplomatMoushumi Rahman from its High Commission in Islamabad within 48 hours. Diplomatic sources in Islamabad told the media that Rahman was allegedly involved in "anti-state activities in Pakistan" and that concerned security agencies continued to monitor her.[34]
Following the election ofImran Khan asPrime Minister of Pakistan, the two countries slowly began to normalize ties. Khan made a phone call to Sheikh Hasina in July 2020 following Bangladesh's foreign policy announcement of "friendship to all and malice to none", inviting her toIslamabad. Hasina later mentioned that she was interested in strengthening bilateral ties with Pakistan.[35] Following a meeting withShahriar Alam on 7 January 2021, theGovernment of Pakistan removed allvisa requirements for Bangladeshi citizens.[36]
There has been efforts to improve relations after theresignation of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. In November 2024, for the first time since the independence of Bangladesh, a Pakistani cargo ship docked inChittagong Port;[37] while in October the government of Bangladesh ended the practice of "mandatory 100% physical inspection" for Pakistani imports.[38]
During official visit to Dhaka on 23 July 2025, Pakistan’s Interior MinisterMohsin Naqvi met with Bangladesh’s Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) MdJahangir Alam Chowdhury at the Secretariat.[39] The two officials held comprehensive discussions across several areas of bilateral interest including counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, police training, anti-human trafficking, cybercrime, the Rohingya crisis, visa facilitation, and enhanced trade. A near-finalised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was announced to grant on‑arrival visa access for holders of diplomatic and official passports, aimed at easing travel and boosting cooperation. Naqvi offered Bangladesh access to Pakistan’s counterterrorism experience and proposed MoUs between their police academies for officer exchange programs and training.[40][41]
In October 2024, Bangladeshi Foreign AdviserMd. Touhid Hossain said that it would be easier to normalize relations if Pakistan apologizes for the events of '71.[42] On 19 December 2024, Chief Adviser of BangladeshMuhammad Yunus and Prime Minister of PakistanShehbaz Sharif met on the side-lines ofD8 summit in Egypt, where Yunus urged Sharif to resolve the unsolved issues of 1971. Sharif asserted that main issues had been resolved though 1974Shimla Agreement and if there were other outstanding issues, he also would have liked to overview. The two leaders also expressed their desire to extend cooperation in new areas such as the sugar industry and dengue management.[43][44]
On 17 April 2025, Bangladesh again demanded a formal public apology from Pakistan for the atrocities committed against it during the1971 Liberation War. Bangladesh also reiterated its demand for the repayment of $4.5 billion it claims is owed by Pakistan, the repatriation of more than 300,000 stranded Pakistanis,[45] the equitable distribution of undivided Pakistan’s financial and institutional assets, and the long-ignored transfer of international aid originally meant for victims of the1970 Bhola cyclone.[46] Bangladeshi Foreign SecretaryMd. Jashim Uddin stated that the country had raised "historically unresolved issues" with Pakistan during his meeting with Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch at the Padma State Guest House.[45][47] According to Dr. Moonis Ahmar, professor of international relations at the University of Karachi, while Pakistan has agreed to "symbolically" discuss the issue, "it doesn't mean that Pakistan will accept those demands."[48]
There has been a presence of people from modern day Bangladesh in present-day Pakistan going back generations, even during the times of the British Raj. This continued from 1971 onwards and extended into the 1980s, when massive numbers of Bangladeshis entered Pakistan. This led to a crackdown by the government ofBenazir Bhutto in the 1990s, after public resentment and complaints of crime and social unrest.[49] Today, there are about an estimated two million unregistered Bangladeshis in Pakistan.[50] There has been a small number of Bangladeshi expatriate students studying in Pakistan but that number has been on the decline mainly due to security concerns in the country.[51]
An estimated two million ethnicBengalis in Pakistan, many of whom have lived there since before 1971, face systemic discrimination and exploitation.[52] Despite being born in the country, they are denied citizenship, voting rights, and access to public services like education and healthcare. The digitization of ID cards and creation ofNARA in 2000 reclassified many as “aliens,” stripping them of legal identity. Successive governments. Statelessness pushes Bengali children into poverty and marginalization, with blocked futures. Advocacy groups continue to demand recognition, but Pakistan’s bureaucracy perpetuates their exclusion and human rights violations.[53][54]
An issue of continuing controversy is the status and return ofBiharis (also calledStranded Pakistanis[a][55]) to Pakistan.[56] Numbered around 540,000, these communities had migrated to what became East Pakistan from the Indian state ofBihar after the partition of India in 1947.[17] During theBangladesh Liberation War, these communities supported thePakistani government and later wanted to emigrate to Pakistan, which stalled and hesitated.[17] By 1982, about 127,000 had been repatriated, leaving about 250,000 people still demanding repatriation.[17] In 1985, there was some progress in this area when Pakistani presidentZia-ul-Haq agreed to accept the "stranded Pakistanis."[17] In a 2002 visit to Bangladesh, Pakistani presidentPervez Musharraf signed numerous bilateral agreements but said he could not allow the emigration ofBiharis to Pakistan for the time being.[56]
Defence relations improved considerably under the reigns ofZiaur Rahman andHussain Muhammad Ershad in Bangladesh, which had grown more distant from its war ally, India. Common concerns over India's regional power have influenced strategic cooperation leading to a gift of several squadrons ofJ-6 fighter aircraft to theBangladesh Air Force in the late 1980s.
In August 2024, theYunus interim government ordered for a "fresh supply of artillery ammunition from Pakistan", which included 40,000 ammunition rounds, 2900high intensity projectiles and 40 tonnes ofRDX in "wax consistency".[57]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2020) |
Bilateral trade between the two countries has been growing slowly over the past years. During the eleven-year period between 2000–01 and 2010–11, Pakistan export to Bangladesh grew at an average annual rate of 27.6 percent and imports from Bangladesh grew at the rate of 9.2 percent. The total value of trade (export plus import) between the two countries in 2010-11 was about $983 million. To give a boost to bilateral trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh both countries have decided to finalize a bilateral Free Trade Agreement. FTA will pave the way for opening trade opportunity and will help expansion of trade between the two countries.[58] In November 2024, a cargo ship sailed directly from Pakistan to Bangladesh for the first time in decades.[59][60][61] Major Bangladeshi exports to Pakistan include textiles, agricultural products, leather footwear and other leather products.[60] In fiscal 2022-23, Bangladesh's imports exceeded $68 billion, of which goods imported from Pakistan amounted to $699 million. Exports to Pakistan were around $74 million during the period. Most of the imported goods consist of raw materials for the garment industry.
According to the Pakistan Business Council, in addition to cotton, the list of goods imported by Bangladesh from Pakistan includes salt, Sulphur, earths and stones, plastering materials, lime, edible vegetables, raw hides and skins, machinery, inorganic chemicals, man-made staple fibres, plastics, tanning or dyeing extracts, and edible fruits and nuts.[62]
There have been no direct flights between the two countries for decades.
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