'Ties to be further strengthened'
Dhaka, Nov 9 (bdnews24.com)—The visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Friday hoped that the ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan would be further strengthened as both the South Asian nations have 'similarity in terms of religious and cultural views'.
Khar said this while briefing reporters after a meeting with opposition leader in parliament and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence in the afternoon.
The Pakistani minister came to Dhaka on Friday morning on a five-hour visit to invite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Islamabad to attend the Developing-8 Summit scheduled for Nov 22.
Khar, the 35-year old Pakistani emissary, also met with her Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni.
After the half-hour-long meeting with Khaleda, the Pakistani Foreign Minister was overwhelmed with the cordiality and hospitality showed to her during her first visit to Dhaka and told reporters: "I hope religious views, cultural traditions and the strong ties between the people of the two countries will be further strengthened in future."
About her tour she said: "I've come to Dhaka with the message of better relations between the D-8 countries. As a special emissary of Pakistani President Asif Zardari, I've invited Bangladeshi Prime Minister to attend the D-8 Summit [to be held in Islamabad]."
BNP Vice-Chairman and former Foreign Secretary in Khaleda's Cabinet Shamser Mobin Chowdhury told reporters that the both leaders talked about issues of mutual interest.
In her meeting with the visiting Pakistani minister, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni raised the issue of Pakistan's apology for the genocide committed by its Army during the War of Independence in 1971.
In response, Khar said that it was time to move forward, forgetting the past.
BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, former advisor of foreign affairs Riaz Rahman and former diplomat Sabih Uddin Ahmed, Shamser Mobin Chowdhury and Pakistan High Commissioner to Dhaka Mian Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi Qureshi were present at the meeting.
After the meeting, the Pakistani Foreign Minister headed for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and left Dhaka.
A special flight carrying Hina landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 10:15 am.
This is the first time a Pakistani minister visited Dhaka during the tenure of the Awami League-ruled government.
kobiraj - what is the meaning of BANGALI BABU.....
pet mota vurial with taak matha