Bangladesh seeks return of $4.52 billion owed to Pakistan

POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Apr 16, 2025 : Bangladesh will seek return of $4.52 billion owed to Pakistan in a Bangladesh-Pakistan Foreign Secretary-level meeting after 15 years in Dhaka.
Bangladesh is going to formally raise this $4.52 billion financial claim as a fair share from the assets of undivided Pakistan before 1971.
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday. A Bangladesh-Pakistan Foreign Secretary-level meeting will be held at the state guest house Padma on Thursday. The Bangladesh side will be led by Foreign Secretary Md. Jasim Uddin. This will be the first visit of a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh after 2010.
A source in the Foreign Ministry said that both sides will discuss all issues related to bilateral interests. However, although no specific agenda has been set, all issues of mutual interest will be discussed during the talks.
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch met with Principal Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Towhid Hossain will also pay a courtesy call.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Dhaka later this month. This will be the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh since 2012.
After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan began to open. Imports of goods from Pakistan began. Pakistani cargo ships arrived at the Chittagong seaport. Former ambassador M Humayun Kabir said, “Bangladesh has good prospects for trade with Pakistan. But it is one-sided. We import more. There is good prospect of importing sugar, cotton, dyes. There is a good prospect of connectivity, both countries will benefit. People-to-people contact will increase. If SAARC can be revived, if India agrees, then there is a good prospect of regional cooperation.”
According to the Foreign Ministry, Bangladesh owes Pakistan $4.52 billion after independence. Among these is the $200 million foreign aid sent to the then East Pakistan after the Bhola cyclone in 1970. In addition, there is foreign debt that was not spent in Bangladesh but had to be taken responsibility after independence.
Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan said this in a post on his Facebook account on Wednesday (April 16).