Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday said that there was no reason to maintain strained relations with Pakistan, as he disclosed that Pakistan鈥檚 deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar was expected to visit Dhaka in April.
鈥榃e are assuming that Pakistan鈥檚 foreign minister will visit [Dhaka]. However, the exact date has not been finalised yet. But I don鈥檛 think it [visit] will be before April,鈥� he told reporters at a media briefing at the foreign ministry in the afternoon.
He added that both sides were working on the visit. There was still time, and they would make some decisions in the meantime.
When asked whether Dhaka would raise the issue of Pakistan鈥檚 apology for its role in 1971 and compensation for Bangladesh, Touhid acknowledged that unresolved issues between the two countries remain even after 53 years and said that these matters would be brought up during discussions.
鈥業f we remain fixated on those issues, neither side will benefit. We will, of course, try to protect and recover our interests, but at the same time, we want to view our relations with Pakistan as we would with any other country. We do not want to perceive our relationship with them negatively.鈥�
Touhid emphasised that Dhaka viewed Pakistan as a South Asian nation with which both countries shared mutual interests.
The adviser also pointed out that maritime connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan had already resumed, bringing positive economic benefits. 鈥榃e will try to maximise our benefits from this opportunity.鈥�
Responding to another query, the foreign adviser said that the previous Awami League-led government intentionally strained relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan, which did not serve the interests of either country.