Politics

Pakistan envoy meets Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman to discuss trade and West Asia

High Commissioner Imran Haider briefed Shafiqur Rahman on health, education, trade and cultural cooperation, while the opposition leader called for sustained diplomacy to end the war in West Asia.

ScrollBeat DeskPublished: 19 Oct 2026, 20:16

Shafiqur Rahman, amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Leader of the Opposition, speaking to reporters in Dhaka in August 2024. Delwar Hossain / Wikimedia Commons

Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, met Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman at his official residence in Dhaka on Monday to discuss bilateral cooperation and the conflict in West Asia.

Haider was accompanied by Deputy High Commissioner Muhammad Wasif and Political Counsellor Kamran Dangal, Bangla Tribune reported. Ali Ahmad Mabrur, a member of Shafiqur's foreign affairs advisory committee, also attended.

The Pakistani envoy said his country wanted to take relations with Bangladesh forward "with a future-oriented vision". He said bilateral trade had increased and that officials from the two countries had made several visits in recent months.

He briefed the opposition leader on the "knowledge corridor" project and said a delegation of Bangladeshi academics had recently visited Pakistan and was satisfied with what it saw of the country's education system.

The two sides discussed expanding trade and investment, cooperation in education and research, cultural exchange and other areas of mutual interest, according to Bangla Tribune. Both expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in relations.

Dhaka Tribune reported that Shafiqur Rahman appreciated Pakistan's peacebuilding efforts in West Asia and stressed the need for sustained dialogue and diplomacy to end the war and ease civilian suffering. Haider restated Pakistan's commitment to peace in the region and beyond.

The meeting was the latest in a series of contacts between Dhaka and Islamabad as the two governments expand trade and official exchanges.

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