DPM congratulates newly appointed FM Dr Khalilur Rehman; Both share a vision of regional peace, stability and prosperity.
Bangladesh’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman (right) with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (left)
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Bangladesh’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rehman discussed strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation in various sectors during a telephonic conversation on Sunday.
The rapprochement between Pakistan and Bangladesh came after the overthrow of the Awami League government. In August 2025, the two countries signed several agreements to enhance cooperation in trade, diplomacy, media, education and cultural exchanges, marking a significant step in efforts to reset relations after years of strained ties.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 had a telephone conversation with Dr. Khalil ur Rahman, Foreign Minister of #Bangladeshcongratulating him on his recent appointment.
Both leaders expressed their desire to further strengthen bilateral relations,… pic.twitter.com/KDxVl6lZlr
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) February 22, 2026
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar congratulated his counterpart on his recent appointment and both ministers emphasized a shared vision of peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
“They also agreed to expand cooperation in various sectors and in multilateral forums, with the aim of building a forward-looking partnership for the people of both countries,” the statement said.
Last week, the centre-right BNP achieved a landslide victory in parliament, just 18 months after mass protests led to the ouster of the country’s longest-serving prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.
Read more: BNP open to fostering “future relationship with Pakistan” after election victory
In the historic general election, the BNP won more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s main religious party, came second.
Following the election victory, Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh’s prime minister along with newly elected lawmakers, marking a decisive political shift and the country’s first elected government since the deadly 2024 uprising.
Tarique Rahman later appointed a 50-member cabinet and appointed Khalil ur Rahman, a seasoned diplomat and former UN official who has degrees from universities in Dhaka and the United States, as foreign minister. He held the security portfolio in the interim government and helped mediate trade talks with the United States.
