Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser to the Interim Government of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus has called for Pakistan Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif to settle the lingering issues related to the 1971 to pave the way for improved relations between Dhaka and Islamabad.
Chief Adviser Professor Yunus came up with the remarks on Thursday while holding a bilateral meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of D-8 summit in Cairo.
During a meeting, Yunus emphasized that the unresolved issues have repeatedly surfaced and that it is crucial to resolve them for the future.
“Let’s settle those issues once and for all to allow us to move forward,” he pointed out.
In response, Prime Minister Sharif acknowledged the 1974 tripartite agreement between Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, which he said had already addressed many concerns. However, he expressed his willingness to revisit any remaining issues.
“If there are other outstanding matters, I will be happy to look into them,” Sharif added.
Yunus further stressed the importance of resolving these matters ‘for the future generations’ and suggested that it would be beneficial to settle them once and for all.
Both leaders also expressed a mutual desire to strengthen bilateral ties through enhanced trade, commerce, and cultural exchange, including in the realms of sports and the arts.
The two leaders also discussed potential collaboration in emerging sectors, such as the sugar industry and the management of dengue outbreaks. Sharif offered Pakistan’s expertise in combating dengue, referencing successful efforts in Punjab over a decade ago.
“We could send a delegation to Bangladesh to share our experience in managing the disease,” he said.
Yunus thanked Sharif for the support and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation.
The discussion also touched on the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a priority for Yunus’s administration.
Yunus, a staunch advocate of the regional body, reiterated his commitment to holding a SAARC summit. “I am a big fan of SAARC.
I keep stressing this issue. Even if it’s just a photo session, a summit would send a powerful message,” he said.
Sharif expressed his support for the revival of SAARC and urged Bangladesh to take the lead in organizing a summit. “This is a top priority for us,” Yunus responded.
Shehbaz Sharif in a tweet on X wrote : “Had a very warm and cordial exchange with Prof Yunus.
We discussed strengthening historical and cultural ties, increasing trade, and exploring cooperation in IT, chemicals, leather, surgical goods and other sectors.
Agreed to enhance people-to-people exchanges and align efforts for mutual development.
Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to deepen bilateral and multilateral collaboration for the shared prosperity of our peoples.”
On the political front, Yunus shared details of his government’s plans for essential reforms and its commitment to holding general elections by mid-2026.
He is currently leading a commission tasked with building a consensus for electoral and political reforms.
In a gesture of goodwill, Sharif invited Yunus to visit Pakistan at his convenience, and Yunus extended an invitation to Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to visit Bangladesh in February on his way to Malaysia. Dar accepted the offer.
The meeting was also attended by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Yunus’s Special Envoy, Lutfey Siddiqi.
