Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday said that Pakistan had moved past “bitter memories” and urged the forging of a new future with Bangladesh amid the recent warming of ties between the two countries.

Ever since a popular uprising in Bangladesh toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government in August last year, there has been a thaw in ties between Islamabad and Dhaka, with trade and bilateral relations seeing a marked improvement.

Fazl is currently on a visit to the country and called for stron­ger ties, telling a large religious gathering that a shared “unity of faith was a stronger bond between the two nations that cannot be abolished”.

Addressing a gathering of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam members today at Dhaka’s Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre as the chief guest with several other Bengali political parties in attendance, Fazl said: “Pakistan wants Bangladesh’s prosperity and stability, has forgotten the bitter memories of the past.”

He reiterated that the people of Pakistan had “forgotten the old bitter memories”, adding that now “a new future has to be carved”.

The JUI-F chief added Pakistan saw Bangladesh as a “brother”. “We were one, and God willing, we will remain one. Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be strengthened by the spirit of goodwill,” he added.

Fazl added that Islam is a religion of peace and security, but the United States is spreading chaos across the world. He maintained that internal divisions among Muslims give enemies an opportunity to attack.

“Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan has always worked for the protection of the rights of all people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, beyond sectarian and denominational lines.”

On the occasion, prominent political and social leaders from various political and religiopolitical parties were also present.

“Muslim Ummah cannot be divided, and no worldly power can break these bonds,” reiterated the JUI-F chief.