Pakistan seeks enhanced economic, defence collaboration with new Bangladesh govt

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have extended felicitations to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its leader, Tarique Rahman, on securing a landslide majority in the national elections and receiving the mandate to form the next government.

Both dignitaries expressed a desire to work towards strengthening “brotherly, multifaceted bilateral relations”.

The development comes after BNP wins a decisive two-thirds majority on Friday in general elections, a result expected to bring stability after months of tumult following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a Gen Z-led uprising.

Latest counts in an election seen as the South Asian nation’s first truly competitive in years gave the BNP and its allies at least 212 of the 299 seats up for grabs, domestic TV channels said.

The opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies won 70 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation.

In a statement, President Zardari congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of the polls across 299 seats with the participation of over 127 million registered voters.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s support for the sovereignty and democratic aspirations of Bangladesh, the president said Pakistan looks forward to working with the new government to strengthen cooperation in trade, defence, cultural exchanges and regional forums.

READ MORE: BD’s BNP wins historic parliamentary election

Zardari said the elections in Bangladesh mark an opportunity for South Asia to move beyond past phases in which regional cooperation, including within SAARC was held hostage by India who continues to paralyse the great forum that was born in Bangladesh in 1985.

He expressed the hope that the new political environment in Dhaka would contribute to more balanced, independent and mutually respectful engagement across the region.

The president conveyed his best wishes for the continued stability, progress and prosperity of Bangladesh.

In a post on X handle, PM Shehbaz also congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of the elections.

The prime minister said he looks forward to working closely with the new Bangladesh leadership to further strengthen the historic, brotherly multifaceted bilateral relations and advance their shared goals of peace, stability, and development in South Asia and beyond.