Islamabad (Web Desk): Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal will represent Pakistan at swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, scheduled to take place in Dhaka on February 17 (Tuesday).
According to a statement by the Foreign Office (FO), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will not be able to attend the ceremony due to a prior overseas engagement.
The FO noted that Pakistan’s participation highlights its backing of Bangladesh’s democratic journey and reinforces the commitment to nurturing stronger bilateral relations, along with promoting cooperation that benefits both countries.
Official sources confirmed that Ahsan Iqbal has traveled to Dhaka for the ceremony and is expected to hold high-level meetings with senior Bangladeshi officials during the visit.
In a statement, Ahsan Iqbal emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening the friendly ties between the two countries and fostering new avenues for political, economic, and developmental cooperation.
He expressed optimism about enhancing bilateral collaboration and highlighted the bright prospects for shared progress in both political and economic spheres.
He said that PM Shehbaz plans to visit Bangladesh in the near future to personally congratulate the newly elected Prime Minister Tariq Rahman.
Leaders from several countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, have been invited to attend the ceremony.
According to the Bangladesh Election Commission, in the polls held for 299 seats, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a decisive victory with 209 seats.
The Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the second-largest party with 68 seats, while the student-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) claimed six seats.