Bangladesh, Pakistan open ministerial-level talks

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to meet with the chief advisor later in the day

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has held a bilateral meeting with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who is in Dhaka on a two-day visit.

The talks began at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel after 10am on Sunday.

Following the meeting, a delegation-level discussion was held.

National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam and other senior foreign ministry officials joined the meeting.

Officials from the foreign ministry said afterward that five to six agreements and memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed between the two countries.

Dar’s trip to Dhaka is aimed at strengthening ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

His arrival on Saturday marked the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh in nearly 13 years.

The last such visit was made by Hina Rabbani Khar in November 2012.

Later on Sunday, Dar is scheduled to meet with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

Earlier in the morning, he attended a breakfast meeting with Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin.

On Saturday, the visiting minister met with leaders of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party.

He is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman.