- Yunus became the chief advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh.
- The Nobel laureate was sworn in after returning to Bangladesh from Paris.
- His appointment came after violent protests that ousted Sheikh Hasina.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday he sought to “deepen cooperation” between Pakistan and Bangladesh as he sent good wishes to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was sworn in as a senior adviser to the interim government on Thursday.
Yunus' appointment to lead the South Asian country's interim government came after violent protests by a student-led movement forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee the country earlier this week.
The protests resulted in the tragic deaths of more than 400 people, mostly young students.
Sharif, 72, took to X to congratulate Yunus, 84, writing: “My heartiest congratulations to Professor Muhammad Yunus on his swearing-in as the Principal Adviser to the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
“I wish him every success in his endeavour to lead Bangladesh towards a harmonious and prosperous future. I look forward to working with him to deepen Pakistan-Bangladesh cooperation in the days ahead.”
Yunus, who had previously been in Paris for medical treatment, returned to his hometown on Thursday after Bangladeshi student protesters backed him for the role in a government tasked with holding elections for a new leader.
Yunus, a staunch critic of Hasina, is known as “the banker of the poor” and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding a bank that pioneered the fight against poverty through small loans to needy borrowers.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs website, Pakistan and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations in December 1975.
Bangladesh remains Pakistan's largest trading partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade volumes worth between $800-900 million annually.
Pakistan is home to a large number of people of Bengali origin. Because of their shared history and common faith, relations between the peoples are ones of brotherhood and goodwill.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have institutionalized dialogue mechanisms such as bilateral political consultations and the Joint Economic Commission, and also cooperate in various multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
