DHAKA/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh have taken a major step toward improving bilateral relations by agreeing to visa-free travel for diplomatic and official passport holders. The announcement came after a high-level meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh’s Home Minister Lt. Gen. (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in Dhaka.
Minister Naqvi received a guard of honour upon arrival at the Bangladeshi Home Ministry before the two sides held wide-ranging talks on security cooperation, counter-terrorism strategies, anti-narcotics efforts, and measures to combat human smuggling.
The ministers agreed on several initiatives, including joint training programs for police forces, sharing of technical expertise, and the formation of a bilateral coordination committee led by Pakistan’s Interior Secretary Khurram Agha to monitor progress.
Bangladesh’s minister expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s offer to assist with police training, calling the visit a “milestone in promoting mutual understanding and collaboration.”
In the coming months, a Bangladeshi delegation will visit Islamabad to examine the Safe City Project and engage with the National Police Academy, further strengthening security partnerships.
This development follows the resumption of foreign secretary-level talks earlier this year after a 15-year gap, which also led to the launch of direct shipping routes between Karachi and Chittagong and discussions on restoring direct air connectivity.
Observers say the move will not only streamline official interactions but also build trust between Islamabad and Dhaka, opening the door for deeper regional cooperation in trade, security, and diplomacy.