The interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has now lifted the requirement of security clearance for Pakistani citizens wishing to visit Bangladesh. The move is believed to be an indication of Bangladesh’s new diplomatic and political approach to strengthening ties with Pakistan. This was mentioned in a report by Indian media outlet NDTV on Saturday (December 7) local time.

It said that in 2019, the requirement of obtaining this security clearance was made mandatory in view of the tension in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations and security concerns. However, on December 2, 2024, the Security Services Department (SSD) of the Bangladesh Home Ministry announced the lifting of this condition.

Recently, Pakistan High Commissioner to Dhaka Syed Ahmed Maruf met BNP leader Khaleda Zia. After that, this policy basically changed. This November, the interim government allowed direct cargo ships from Karachi to Chittagong, which is another unique example of strengthening relations between the two countries.

According to the NDTV report, the BNP has historically maintained close relations with Pakistan. On the other hand, the Awami League government led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has always been known as a close ally of India.

Meanwhile, this change in Bangladesh’s visa policy has increased concerns about the security of northeastern India. According to Indian security experts, this change could affect India-Bangladesh relations and bring an important turning point in Bangladesh’s geopolitical position.

In this regard, Mubashar Hasan, Executive Director of the Sydney Policy and Analysis Center, said that by normalizing relations with India’s adversary Pakistan, Bangladesh is now indicating that it no longer wants to view South Asian politics from an India-centric perspective. However, the question remains as to how effective this will be for Bangladesh in the long run. Meanwhile, experts have mentioned that gaps in India’s neighborhood policy are becoming clear. Although the Bangladesh government has repeatedly expressed its interest in maintaining friendly relations with India, there has been no significant response from India. Experts believe that this situation signals a major shift in the geopolitics and security of South Asia.