- Dhaka, Islamabad revive trade ties after two decades
- Pakistan grants port access to Bangladesh in major trade breakthrough amid worsening India–Bangladesh relations
Pakistan has granted Bangladesh access to Karachi Port, marking a significant step toward reviving bilateral trade after nearly two decades. The decision was formalized during the 9th Pak–Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting — the first such dialogue between the two nations in 20 years, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
According to Samaa TV, the new port arrangement will enable Dhaka to expand its trade network with China and Central Asian countries, while strengthening cooperation between the national shipping lines of both nations. The agreement is expected to streamline regional trade routes for Bangladesh and open new commercial corridors through Pakistan’s western seaports.
Both countries emphasized the importance of boosting maritime and economic collaboration, with the initiative signaling a cautious but significant thaw in Pakistan–Bangladesh relations that had remained stagnant since the early 2000s.
The move comes at a sensitive geopolitical moment, as Bangladesh’s ties with India continue to strain following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime and a series of escalating trade restrictions by New Delhi
India–Bangladesh trade tensions
Tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka have deepened over a series of Indian trade restrictions imposed this year. India recently banned the import of select jute products and ropes from Bangladesh via all land routes, rerouting shipments exclusively through the Nhava Sheva seaport in Maharashtra.
These measures follow earlier curbs limiting Bangladeshi exports — including garments, processed foods, and jute fabrics — to sea-based entry only. In April, India also withdrew a key transshipment facility, further tightening trade access and straining bilateral commercial relations.
The diplomatic chill has worsened after remarks made in China by Bangladesh’s interim government chief Muhammad Yunus, which drew sharp criticism across India’s political spectrum. Meanwhile, New Delhi has expressed growing concern over rising violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.
