Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been urged by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus to settle the unresolved issues of 1971 to advance Dhaka's relations with Islamabad.

Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday (December 19) at a hotel in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on the sidelines of the D-8 summit. At that time, the Chief Adviser said, the issues are coming up again and again. Let us resolve those issues to move forward.

In response, Sharif said, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India have resolved the issues in the 1974 tripartite agreement, but if there are other unresolved issues, he would be happy to see them.

Professor Yunus said, it would be better to resolve the issues permanently for future generations.

They agreed to strengthen ties between the two countries through increased trade and exchange of sports and cultural delegations.

A message obtained here said the two leaders expressed their desire to expand cooperation in new areas such as the sugar industry and dengue management.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Shehbaz Sharif discussed issues of mutual interest, including the revival of SAARC, a key feature of the foreign policy declared by the Chief Adviser after taking charge as the head of Bangladesh's interim government.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, also mentioned his government's plan to carry out "necessary reforms" and hold general elections before mid-2026. The Chief Adviser said he was leading a consensus-building commission to discuss reforms.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for developing strategic ties between Dhaka and Islamabad. Shehbaz Sharif said, “We are really looking forward to strengthening relations with our brotherly Bangladesh.” He welcomed Dr. Yunus’ initiative in reviving SAARC and thanked Bangladesh for working on the possibility of hosting a summit of the regional organization.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, “This is a top priority.” He said, “I am a big fan of the idea of SAARC. I will continue to talk about the issue. I want a summit of SAARC leaders.” He said, “Even if it is just for a photo shoot, it will carry a strong message.”

The Pakistani Prime Minister offered technical assistance to better manage Bangladesh’s state-run sugar mills. He expressed grief over the deaths due to the dengue outbreak in Bangladesh and said Dhaka can benefit from Pakistan’s experience in fighting the disease.

Shehbaz Sharif said, “About a decade ago, our fight against dengue in Punjab was praised as world-class. We can send a delegation to Bangladesh to share our experiences with Bangladeshi officials.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus thanked Shehbaz Sharif for his support and hoped that Pakistan and Bangladesh would continue this effort.

Among others, the event was attended by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Bangladesh's Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Dr. Lutfe Siddiqui. Lutfe Siddiqui invited Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to visit Bangladesh on his way to Malaysia in February, and he accepted the offer.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also invited Dr. Muhammad Yunus to visit Pakistan at his convenience. 

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has said that three members of a gang of dacoits who entered the Jinjira branch of Rupali Bank in Chunkutia Pakapul area of South Keraniganj police station in the capital have surrendered. Firearms were recovered from them during the raid.

They surrendered at around 5:30 pm on Thursday (December 19), said RAB-10 Commander (CO) Khalilur Rahman Howlader.

The dacoits were unable to break the bank's vault, he said, adding that everyone trapped inside was rescued unharmed.

Earlier, on Thursday (December 19), the dacoits entered the bank at around 2 pm. At that time, when the news of the dacoity was reported from the microphone of a nearby mosque, hundreds of locals surrounded the bank branch and locked it from outside. Later, teams of police, RAB, fire service and army reached the spot and surrounded the bank.

It is learnt that after the news of the dacoity gang attacking the bank spread, an eager crowd gathered there. At that time, traffic on both sides of the main road adjacent to the bank was stopped for security reasons. In addition, an announcement was made from the microphone of the nearby mosque for the robbery gang to surrender. They surrendered towards evening with the efforts of the law enforcement agencies.

The Awami League has no objection to participating in the upcoming national elections - the Anti-discrimination student movement has clearly rejected the statement made by the head of the Election Reform Commission, Badiul Alam Majumder.

A statement signed by the Anti-discrimination student movement spokesperson Umama Fatema on Thursday (December 19) said that the Awami League in a group responsible for several genocides in Bangladesh. In addition, the Awami League has been involved in various anti-human rights activities including disappearances, murders, and extrajudicial killings for the past 16 years. The Awami League has killed nearly two thousand martyrs and the mutilation of more than thirty thousand people in the latest July genocide. The Awami League has illegally hijacked the last three elections. Giving the party that has tarnished the electoral system of Bangladesh an opportunity to participate in the elections is against the will of the people.

It was further said that the Anti-discrimination student movement stands against the participation of the Awami League in any political activities. If the Awami League participates in any political activity, including elections, the blood of the martyrs of the July Uprising will be devalued.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has urged the head of the Election Reform Commission, Badiul Alam Majumder, to withdraw his statement and take appropriate measures to prevent the Awami League from participating in the elections.

Earlier, on Thursday (December 19) afternoon, the head of the Election Reform Commission, Badiul Alam Majumder, held an open discussion with people from different levels, including the local administration, political parties and civil society, on the reform of the election system at the Rangpur Deputy Commissioner's office.

There, journalists wanted to know whether the Awami League would be able to participate in the next election. In response, Badiul Alam said, "Like you, we are also waiting to see that. But I do not see any obstacles. I do not see anything that has been created for them. We want an inclusive election, those who want to vote with all preparations will be able to vote. No obstacles will be placed. I hope that all parties will participate in the elections."

The July-August movement was not a fire, but the internet was shut down on the orders of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said former State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters on Thursday (November 19) that Junaid Ahmed Palak gave this information during interrogation by the International Crimes Tribunal.

He said that an attempt was made to cover up the genocide committed in July-August by shutting down the internet. Sheikh Hasina had given this order to shut down the internet.

Tajul Islam said that Ziaul Ahsan is trying to make the tribunal controversial by appealing against the tribunal's jurisdiction to try him. He said that no one who obstructs the trial of the July genocide will be spared.

The International Crimes Tribunal ordered the questioning of former SP Abdullahel Kafi, former Additional Superintendent of Police Md Shahidul Islam on December 25 and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun on December 30.