Bangladesh Unlikely to Reunite with Pakistan Despite Zaid Hamid’s Offer

A recent statement by Pakistani far-right commentator Zaid Hamid has sparked interest, with Hamid offering Bangladesh the opportunity to “join back” Pakistan. However, given Bangladesh’s determination to move forward from its struggle for independence, it’s unlikely that the country will consider reuniting with Pakistan.

The 1971 Liberation War was a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s history, with the country fighting for and ultimately gaining independence from Pakistan. The war was marked by widespread violence and human rights abuses, with estimates suggesting that between 300,000 to 3 million people were killed .

The idea of reuniting with Pakistan would be a reversal of everything that Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and many Indians fought for during the liberation war. Bangladesh has made significant progress since its independence and has established itself as a sovereign nation.

While there have been efforts to improve relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan in recent years, the issue of Pakistan’s role in the 1971 war remains a sensitive topic. In 2013, Pakistan’s National Assembly issued a statement condemning the execution of Abdul Quader Molla, a Bangladeshi Islamist leader who was found guilty of war crimes during the 1971 war .

In 2024, Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain stated that normalizing relations with Pakistan would be easier if Pakistan apologized for its actions during the 1971 war . However, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asserted that the main issues between the two countries had been resolved through the 1974 Shimla Agreement.

Despite these challenges, trade relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have been growing slowly. In November 2024, a Pakistani cargo ship docked in Chittagong Port, marking the first direct trade shipment between the two countries in decades .

In conclusion, while Zaid Hamid’s offer may have sparked interest, it’s unlikely that Bangladesh will consider reuniting with Pakistan. The country has come too far since its independence and has established itself as a sovereign nation. However, efforts to improve relations and increase trade between the two countries are likely to continue.