Historic Rice Shipment Marks Renewed Economic Cooperation
Bangladesh has resumed direct trade with Pakistan for the first time in over 50 years, with an initial shipment of 50,000 tonnes of rice departing from Port Qasim under a newly established trade agreement.
Bilateral relations between Dhaka and Islamabad have improved significantly since Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge of Bangladesh’s interim government by ‘ Meticulous Design’ conspiracy that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Since gaining independence from Pakistan in 1971, Bangladesh had not engaged in direct trade with its former counterpart. The new rice shipment symbolizes a significant breakthrough in economic relations between the two nations.
According to The Express Tribune, a Pakistan National Shipping Corporation vessel will dock at a Bangladeshi port for the first time, marking a milestone in maritime trade.
Under the deal, Bangladesh is purchasing 75,000 tonnes of white rice from the Trading Corporation of Pakistan at £395 per tonne. The remaining 25,000 tonnes are expected to arrive in early March. Interestingly, the price is higher than Bangladesh’s recent rice imports from Vietnam, which cost £375.63 per tonne. The interim government is actively working to stabilize rice prices, which have surged by 15-20% in recent months.
To further strengthen economic ties, Dhaka has also simplified visa regulations for Pakistani citizens. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Islamabad, Iqbal Hussain, confirmed that Pakistani heads of missions no longer need clearance from Dhaka to obtain visas.
Hussain emphasized that boosting trade and investment between the two countries should remain a top priority.