Dhaka, Islamabad Pledge to Enhance Collaboration in Multiple Sectors

Rtv News

Publish : 27 Oct 2025, 04:25 PM

The photo is collected from social media

Dhaka and Islamabad have agreed to broaden their partnership in multiple sectors including trade, agriculture, IT, food, energy, pharmaceutical and connectivity.

The outcome followed the bilateral economic dialogue between Bangladesh and Pakistan, revived after nearly two decades through the 9th Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Monday.

Bangladesh Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed and Pakistan Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik led their respective delegations in the meeting.

Senior officials of ministries and agencies concerned of both countries relating to trade, commerce, agriculture, information technology, aviation, and maritime affairs attended the meeting.

Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said the discussions covered a wide range of issues, including agriculture, trade, commerce, IT, food, aviation, and shipping — all aimed at improving the livelihoods of people in both countries.

Final List of Polling Centres, Booths Announced

“This is a very important meeting. After 20 years, we’ve resumed our economic dialogue with Pakistan, and it has been a very successful one. We have discussed cooperation in agriculture, IT, food, maritime transport, and other areas that can benefit both the nations,” he said.

“We want to move towards regional cooperation as well. If South Asian countries can collaborate in this manner, it will be better for everyone. We’ve requested to make this cooperation framework even stronger,” he added.

The last JEC meeting between the two South Asian nations took place in 2005; its 2025 edition marks a renewed commitment to building economic and regional linkages.

The Finance Adviser also said that designated focal points will be set up in ministries, including Civil Aviation and Maritime Affairs, to follow up on the areas discussed.

In response to a query about trade targets, he said the meeting did not set any specific goals. “I can’t mention any specific figure right now because these are mostly … The respective ministries and agencies will follow up on agriculture, research, food processing, and IT-related cooperation,” he said.

Praising Bangladesh for hosting the meeting, the Pakistan Minister said, “Holding a JEC meeting after 20 years is indeed significant. We want to build on this positive momentum for the mutual benefits of both countries.”

“We’ll try to operationalize this cooperation and to ensure next time when we congregate at JEC...We have achieved tangible progress on the targets that we have set for both our countries,” he added.

Responding to a query on minimizing the existing trade gap, Malik noted that the current trade volume between Bangladesh and Pakistan is less than one billion dollars despite both nations having large populations and complementary with each other.

He said that there are many areas beyond jute as Pakistan continues to import from Bangladesh while Pakistan would also look forward to agricultural cooperation to tap the potentials and to source additional agricultural products.

The Pakistan Minister said that his country would continue importing from Bangladesh and explore new areas of cooperation in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, power, and energy. “Insha Allah, we’ll try to expand and move beyond jute and obviously, jute will remain as a main stake of this cooperation,” he added.

He also mentioned that both sides would hold further discussions on energy cooperation later in the day.

Both the sides also agreed to continue working towards expanding trade and investment opportunities, operationalizing the agreed areas of cooperation, and preparing for the next JEC meeting with measurable progress on identified targets, he added.

Follow google news channel to get RTV news Google News

Related More News

Dr Asif Nazrul, Dr Khalilur Meet Foreign Dignitaries

Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul and National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman today (Wednesday) met visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Nepal's Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, and Bhutan's Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban here. Read More Pakistan Speaker and Indian Minister Meet at Begum Zia’s Funeral The dignitaries arrived in Dhaka to attend the last rites of former Prime Minister and national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, who passed away yesterday. The advisers expressed their gratitude to the visiting dignitaries for their presence and for showing solidarity with the people of Bangladesh during this time of national mourning.

Pakistan Speaker and Indian Minister Meet at Begum Zia’s Funeral

In a notable moment of regional diplomacy, Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar exchanged greetings on Wednesday at Manik Mia Avenue, ahead of the state funeral of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Both leaders arrived in the capital this morning, representing their respective governments to pay final respects to the three-time former premier and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson. Their presence underscores the significant regional impact of Khaleda Zia’s long political career and her role in South Asian affairs. Read More Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Calls on CA Prior to the commencement of the namaz-e-janaza, Speaker Sadiq and Minister Jaishankar met with BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. They conveyed formal condolence messages on behalf of Pakistan and India, expressing deep sympathy for the bereaved family and the people of Bangladesh. The interaction between the high-ranking officials of the two neighboring nations, amidst a sea of millions of mourners, highlighted a rare moment of shared respect for the veteran Bangladeshi leader. Dignitaries from across the globe have gathered in Dhaka today, reflecting a broad international recognition of Khaleda Zia's legacy as a symbol of democratic struggle in the region. Following the funeral prayers, both foreign representatives joined the state processional as the nation prepares to lay the "uncompromising leader" to her eternal rest.

Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Calls on CA

Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan Sardar Ayaz Sadiq today called on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna here, according to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. Earlier, he handed over Islamabad's condolence message to BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman at the death of three-time former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, reflecting Pakistan's deep respect for Bangladesh's late uncompromising leader. Read More Begum Zia Laid to Eternal Rest at Zia Udyan with Full State Honors Sadiq met Tarique Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon and formally conveyed the condolence message before the namaj-e-janaza of Begum Khaleda Zia at the Manik Mia Avenue here this afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly arrived here to attend the funeral of the former prime minister and BNP chairperson, representing the government of Pakistan.

Begum Zia Laid to Eternal Rest at Zia Udyan with Full State Honors

An era in Bangladesh's political history concluded on Wednesday as former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was laid to eternal rest with full state honors. The three-time premier was interred beside her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at approximately 4:30 pm. The burial followed a massive funeral prayer (namaz-e-janaza) at Manik Mia Avenue, where hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in an unprecedented display of national grief. The prayers were led at 3:02 pm by the renowned Islamic scholar and Khatib of Baitul Mukarram, Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek. The congregation was joined by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the chiefs of the three services, interim government advisers, and high-level foreign dignitaries from across South Asia, including representatives from India and Pakistan. The final journey of the "uncompromising leader" began early Wednesday morning when her body, draped in the national flag, was brought to the Parliament area from the residence of her son, Tarique Rahman. Read More Please Pray for My Mother: Tarique Rahman Despite the biting winter cold, millions of citizens from every corner of the country converged on the capital to pay their final respects. To ensure order, a multi-layered security detail involving the Army, Police, RAB and BGB was deployed across the city. Begum Khaleda Zia’s death at age 80 follows a month-long battle with chronic health complications at Evercare Hospital. Her legacy spans 41 years of political leadership, during which she transitioned from a homemaker to a three-time Prime Minister and five-term Member of Parliament. She was famously known for her steadfast resolve during the anti-autocracy movements of the 1990s and for her historic record of never losing an election she contested. While the general public was restricted from the immediate burial site to maintain solemnity, the sheer scale of the gathering at her janaza served as a powerful testament to her enduring connection with the people of Bangladesh. As she was laid to rest with military honors, the nation observed a day of mourning for the woman who spent over four decades shaping its democratic path.

Please Pray for My Mother: Tarique Rahman

In a deeply emotional moment preceding the funeral prayers at Manik Mia Avenue, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed a massive congregation of millions, seeking spiritual blessings for his mother, Begum Khaleda Zia. Standing before the sea of mourners, he introduced himself simply as her eldest son and made a heartfelt request: "Please pray for my mother so that Allah grants her Jannat (Paradise)." The namaz-e-janaza of the three-time former Prime Minister and country's first female premier was conducted by Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek, Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Read More Millions Bid Tearful Farewell as Begum Zia’s Janaza Concludes Before the prayers, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan shared a brief biography, reflecting on her journey as a political icon. The red-and-green national flag-wrapped coffin was brought to the venue with full state honors at 2:45 pm, with the prayers commencing at 3:00 pm. The gathering was attended by the highest levels of the state, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury. They were joined by foreign dignitaries, interim government advisers, the chiefs of the three services, and senior civil and military officers, alongside an overwhelming number of citizens from all walks of life. As the final prayers were offered, the venue echoed with the sound of weeping as mourners bid a tearful adieu to their beloved leader. Following the ceremony, her body was taken to Zia Udyan to be laid to eternal rest beside the grave of her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, with full state honors.