Pakistan says it stands in solidarity with people of Bangladesh

In response to recent political developments in Bangladesh, Pakistan expressed hope for a swift return to normalcy, stating, its nation "stands in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh" and desire for calm and stability.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Foreign Office stated, "We are confident that the resilience and unity of the Bangladeshi people will guide them towards a harmonious future."

Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have historically been strained, particularly during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid, who was recently ousted following nationwide protests against her authoritarian policies.

Sheikh Hasina’s foreign policy leaned heavily toward India, but with the change in government, there is hope that the relationship between the two South Asian nations may take a new direction.

Student protests erupted in Bangladesh in July, demanding the revocation of quotas in civil service jobs. However, police violence against the demonstrators, which resulted in over 400 deaths, transformed the protests into a full-fledged movement.

On August 4, around 100 demonstrators were killed in a single day, which intensified public anger against Sheikh Hasina’s government and ultimately brought an end to her 15-year rule over Bangladesh.

According to international media, while Sheikh Hasina played an substantial role in Bangladesh’s economic development, her policies failed to resonate with the country’s youth, many of whom felt that the government was catering primarily to the elite.

Widespread unemployment and the suppression of dissent prompted student leaders to take to the streets, demanding an end to the allocation of government jobs exclusively for the children of certain classes.