The day’s consultations began with a meeting, held at the Pakistan High Commission in Gulshan, between Ishaq Dar and a seven-member delegation of the NCP, led by the party’s Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain.

After the meeting, Akhtar said the discussion focused on rebuilding bilateral trust, confronting past historical wounds, and promoting equitable cooperation.

“We conveyed that the time has come to face the events of 1971 with honesty and maturity. Healing can only begin through acknowledgment.”

The two sides also explored potential collaboration in education, healthcare, and public administration, stressing the need for a cooperative, non-hegemonic South Asia.

“The region must move beyond strategic rivalry. Solidarity, not dominance, should shape our future,” he added.

In the afternoon, Dar sat with a five-member delegation of Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Nayeb Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher.

Taher said the discussions revolved around regional trade, connectivity, and revitalizing SAARC. He also criticized past foreign policy decisions for being “unilaterally aligned.”

“Bangladesh must adopt a balanced and independent foreign policy. Our ties with the Muslim world, in particular, should be strengthened,” he stated.

Taher emphasized the urgency of Muslim solidarity on global issues like the Palestinian crisis and the need for civilizational harmony in addressing political and humanitarian challenges.

In the evening, Dar met with a six-member delegation from the BNP, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Senior leaders including Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, and Shama Obaid also attended the meeting.

Details of the discussion were not disclosed at the time of reporting, but BNP officials said the talks addressed bilateral relations, regional affairs, and democratic developments in Bangladesh.

In a diplomatic gesture, Dar is scheduled to visit BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence on Sunday at 7:30 PM to inquire about her health.

Dar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon via a special flight and was welcomed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam.

This is the first high-level visit from Pakistan since Bangladesh’s political realignment on August 5. His trip is aimed at improving relations that have long been strained by historical and geopolitical tensions.