Dhaka, Aug 21 (V7N) – Holders of diplomatic and official passports from Bangladesh will now be able to travel to Pakistan without a visa, Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor Shafiqul Alam announced on Thursday.

The decision was revealed during a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy following a meeting of the Advisory Council chaired by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the Tejgaon office earlier in the day.

Shafiqul Alam said the agreement, to be signed with Pakistan for an initial period of five years, will be based on reciprocity. “Just as Bangladeshi diplomatic and official passport holders will get visa-free access to Pakistan, Pakistani holders of such passports will also be able to enter Bangladesh without a visa,” he stated. He added that Bangladesh has similar agreements with 31 other countries.

The press secretary also informed that local institutions, including Bangladesh Bank, along with international organizations, are working to recover Tk 40,000 crore laundered abroad during the previous Awami League government. While the recovery process may take years, he expressed confidence that the interim government will demonstrate visible progress.

In addition, Shafiqul Alam announced that Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to visit Cox’s Bazar on August 25 to attend an international conference on the Rohingya crisis.

He further noted that since assuming office, ministries under the interim government have been actively pursuing reforms on their own initiative instead of waiting for a central reform commission.

END/SMA/AJ