ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch is in Dhaka for Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), marking the first such high-level diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh in 15 years, Dawn.com reported.

Since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, its leadership — especially under the recently ousted government of Sheikh Hasina — has largely aligned with New Delhi, fostering close ties with India while maintaining a cautious distance from Islamabad.

However, since the popular uprising that led to the ousting of Hasina’s government in August last year — with the former premier fleeing to her longtime ally India — relations between Islamabad and Dhaka have begun to thaw, with noticeable improvements in trade and overall bilateral engagement.

Ms Baloch was welcomed by Ishrat Jahan, the director general of foreign ministry,

Foreign Secretary Amna in Dhaka for high-level talks

Dhaka Tribune reported. She will lead Islamabad’s delegation at the FOC, while the Bangladesh side will be led by Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin.

The outlet further stated that Islamabad had proposed the consultations as part of its efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with Dhaka.

All bilateral issues will be discussed during the FOC, The Daily Star quoted diplomatic sources as saying. It also said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to visit Bangladesh on April 27–28.

Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus where the two leaders reaffirmed their shared desire to further strengthen bilateral relations.

In February, both countries started direct government-to-government trade after decades of troubled relations with imports of 50,000 tonnes of rice.

Direct private trade between the countries restarted in November 2024 when a container ship sailed from Karachi to Chittagong. It was the first cargo ship in decades to sail directly between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2025