DHAKA, Dec 11: President Pervez Musharraf will make a one-hour stopover in Dhaka on Dec 24 on his way home from a trip to China, Shah Zaman Khan, from the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, said on Tuesday. He said the trip would be significant as both countries were keen to improve bilateral relations.

He was the first foreign leader to congratulate Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader and current prime minister Khaleda Zia on her “impressive” victory after she swept to power in a general election in October.

He telephoned president Zia and spoke of Pakistan’s “close fraternal relations” with Bangladesh.—AFP