Pakistan has announced a fully financed scholarship program for 300 Bangladeshi students, indicating a renewed commitment to improving ties with Dhaka under Bangladesh’s new leadership, according to official media.
According to Pakistan Television News, the education government is leading the program, which is sponsored by prominent universities such as the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), COMSATS University, and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Officials highlighted the program’s promotion in Bangladesh through targeted events and online channels to encourage participation.
“The scholarships aim to foster educational exchanges and build deeper cultural connections between the two countries,” PTV News said Friday.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have a convoluted history. Both countries were part of a single state created in 1947, but Bangladesh declared independence in 1971 after a brutal battle. Relations have remained difficult, especially during the time of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who prosecuted Jamaat-e-Islami members for suspected war crimes.
However, ties between the two nations have improved since Hasina was ousted in a student-led insurrection in August. Tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi, where Hasina has taken asylum, have also influenced a change in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations.
In September, Pakistan’s foreign ministry declared a wish for “robust, multifaceted, and friendly relations” with Bangladesh, stressing regional peace and stability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladeshi Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus met in New York to commemorate Bangladesh’s 50th anniversary as a member of the UN. Both presidents addressed measures for improving bilateral cooperation in a variety of industries.
The scholarship program underscores Islamabad’s desire to strengthen connections with Dhaka by emphasizing education as the foundation for partnership and mutual progress.
