Shehbaz, Bangladesh PM set for first Jakarta meeting

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman next week in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman next week in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The meeting will be the first between the two leaders since Tarique Rahman assumed office as Bangladesh’s prime minister around six months ago.

The meeting is being viewed as significant in light of recent regional developments. Both leaders will be in Jakarta to attend the 12th summit of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation.

The nine-member grouping is focused on strengthening economic cooperation among its member states. The three-day summit is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 17.

The summit was earlier postponed in April due to the conflict that emerged in the Middle East. Leaders from member countries are now expected to gather in Jakarta for discussions on regional and economic issues.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also expected to hold a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the summit.

The Pakistani prime minister is likely to meet other participating leaders as well. His expected engagements include a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The meetings are expected to provide an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments and areas of mutual interest.

The expected meeting between the Pakistani and Bangladeshi prime ministers also comes amid efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries. Both sides have shown interest in expanding cooperation in different areas.

Pakistan has also decided not to seek special permission from India to use its airspace for the prime minister’s journey to Indonesia.

Instead, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s aircraft will take an alternative route to reach Jakarta.

The change in travel route will allow the Pakistani delegation to proceed with its scheduled participation in the D-8 summit without seeking special approval from India.