In their first foreign secretary-level dialogue in 15 years, Bangladesh has formally urged Pakistan to address long-standing historical grievances stemming from the 1971 Liberation War. Held in Dhaka on Thursday, the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) brought together Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin and his Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch for discussions aimed at redefining bilateral relations.

During the meeting, Bangladesh called on Pakistan to issue a public apology for the atrocities committed by its military in 1971 and raised multiple unresolved matters that have lingered since independence. These included the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, the equitable division of pre-1971 assets, and the transfer of foreign aid that had been allocated for victims of the 1970 cyclone in then-East Pakistan.

Uddin revealed that Dhaka has demanded USD 4.3 billion as Bangladesh’s rightful share from the undivided assets, along with an additional USD 200 million in foreign donations that remain unpaid. However, he clarified that detailed financial discussions would occur in subsequent rounds of dialogue. "We emphasized that now is the time to address these long-pending issues in order to establish a strong foundation for our relationship," he said.

The FOC was held at the state guest house Padma, after which Baloch met with interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain.

This diplomatic engagement comes ahead of a planned visit by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on April 27 and 28. It also signals a notable shift in bilateral dynamics, particularly following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The current interim leadership, under Muhammad Yunus, appears to be downplaying the legacy of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a central figure in Bangladesh’s independence movement.

Asked about Pakistan’s reaction to the demands, Uddin stated that Islamabad had shown a willingness to stay engaged with an open and constructive approach.

When questioned about Bangladesh’s perceived shift in foreign policy alignment—from New Delhi to Islamabad—Uddin dismissed the idea of favoritism. "Our goal is to establish ties based on mutual respect and mutual benefit," he said.