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A Pakistan Navy ship arrived at Bangladesh’s Chattogram Port on Friday for a four-day “goodwill” visit, in a clear signal of warming defence ties between the two countries since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024. “On 08 November, Pakistan Navy Ship PNS SAIF, commanded by Captain Shujaat Abbas Raja, arrived at Chattogram Port. Upon arrival, the ship was warmly received on behalf of Commander Chattogram Naval Area,” the Bangladesh Navy said in an official statement. Representatives from the Pakistani embassy in Bangladesh and senior officers of the Bangladesh Navy were also present at the welcoming ceremony, as per the statement. The shop also received a ceremonial welcome by the Bangladesh Navy Ship BNS Shadhinota. “This goodwill visit is expected to further strengthen the friendly relations between Bangladesh Navy and Pakistan Navy,” read the statement. The renewed Pakistan-Bangladesh engagement marks a significant shift since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024. Islamabad was among the first to welcome the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, expressing solidarity with “the people of Bangladesh”. Since then, the two countries have seen a rapid thaw in relations—signing agreements on visa-free diplomatic travel, trade facilitation, defence collaboration, sea route access, and air connectivity. Senior Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, have held multiple meetings with Yunus over the past year, both in Dhaka and on the sidelines of international summits. India-Bangladesh Relations Bangladesh, which gained independence in 1971 after a bloody freedom struggle against Pakistan, has traditionally maintained close ties with India, which played a key role in its liberation. However, the relationship between Dhaka and New Delhi has deteriorated since student-led protests led to the fall of the Hasina government. Recently, Yunus stirred a controversy by giving a map to a Pakistani general in which the northeast of India was shown as part of Bangladesh. The artwork outlined what was described as a “Greater Bangladesh” plan — including the incorporation of India’s northeastern states, particularly Assam, into Bangladesh’s future strategic vision. Speaking to Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “This is very unfortunate, and he should avoid such actions. We want to maintain better relations with our neighbouring countries. We do not want any kind of tension with our neighbouring countries.” He also said India had the capability to deal with regional tensions with its neighbours. “We can face every difficulty and find solutions. But we are people who believe in peace, we do not want unrest. However, this does not mean that India is a coward. If India’s sovereignty is harmed, India will give a strong response,” he said.
