Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, now visiting Bangladesh, paid a courtesy call on BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Sunday. 

He came to the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan residence around 7pm, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. 

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and BNP Standing Committee Member Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain were present during the 45-minute meeting. 

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider accompanied the Deputy Prime Minister during the visit.

Khaleda Zia has long been undergoing treatment for various health complications at her residence.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Professor AZM Zahid Hossain said, “As you all know, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is unwell and staying at home. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan met her and exchanged greetings. He mainly came to enquire about Madam’s health. He wished her a quick recovery.”

He also said the Deputy Prime Minister conveyed greetings to Madam on behalf of Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Speaking about the meeting, Professor Zahid said they discussed ways to improve bilateral relations between the two countries and to strengthen the South Asian regional forum, SAARC. 

He, however, said there was no discussion about the country’s politics.”They simply exchanged greetings and wished for Madam’s recovery.”

In 2012, during her visit to Dhaka, Pakistan’s then Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar also met the BNP Chairperson at her Gulshan residence.

On Saturday, Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka on a special flight for a two-day visit. 

During his stay, he met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and led Pakistan’s delegation in official talks with Bangladesh.

The Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister also held separate meetings with leaders of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP).