Officials said Bangladesh has resumed direct trade with Pakistan for the first time since the secession of the two countries in 1971, after a first shipment of rice left the Pakistani port of Qasim (south of the country) under an agreement between the two countries.
The agreement comes after the improvement of diplomatic relations between the two countries since the transitional government in Bangladesh, led by the Nobel Prize holder, Mohamed Younis, has improved power after protests that prompted the then Prime Minister Sheikha Hasina Wajid to leave the country.
Under the agreement reached earlier this month, Bangladesh will buy white rice from Pakistan at $ 499 per ton.
On November 17, a Pakistani cargo ship in the Port of Bangladesh had been established for the first time since 1971. The Bengali newspaper “Dhaka Tribune” at the time reported that a Pakistani cargo ship left the port of Karachi, and was in the port of Cheetagong in Bangladesh, to start with the direct maritime trade between The two countries for the first time in 53 years.
Before the establishment of direct maritime communication between the two countries, the trade was carried out through Singapore and other neighboring ports.
At that time, the Ambassador of Pakistan in Dhaka, Sayed Ahmed Marouf, expressed his welcome to the arrival of the ship from Karachi to Bangladesh, describing it as an important development and step towards strengthening the most integrated commercial network throughout the region.
He added that this direct maritime trade between the two countries is taking place for the first time since 1971, and is an indication of the increasing demand for bilateral trade.
The Cheetagong Port authorities said the ship brought goods from Pakistan and the UAE, including raw materials for the main clothing industry in Bangladesh and basic food.
In September, Bangladesh eased the restrictions imposed on imports of Pakistani goods, which had previously required a mandatory material examination upon arrival, which led to long delays.
Previously, Pakistani goods should be emptied on the ships of another country or in the ports of another country before arriving in Bangladesh.
