On April 16, 2025, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch arrived in Dhaka to participate in Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) with Bangladesh, marking the first such engagement in 15 years. This visit signifies a thaw in relations following the ousting of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, which led to improved bilateral ties.
Baloch was received by Ishrat Jahan, Director General of the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry. She is leading Pakistan’s delegation in discussions with her Bangladeshi counterpart, Jashim Uddin. The consultations aim to address all bilateral issues and strengthen diplomatic relations.
This diplomatic engagement follows recent developments, including the resumption of direct government-to-government trade in February 2025 and the restart of private trade in November 2024, marked by a cargo ship sailing from Karachi to Chittagong—the first in decades. Additionally, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus last month, reaffirming a mutual desire to enhance bilateral relations. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is also expected to visit Bangladesh on April 27–28, further indicating a commitment to strengthening ties.