Hope for better academic links between Bangladesh and Pakistan

The departure in Bangladesh of authoritarian leader Sheikh Hasina is opening 바카라사이트 way for improved academic relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan, as ties with India deteriorate.?

In December, Pakistan??a new programme that will provide fully funded scholarships to 300 Bangladeshi students. It follows Dhaka University ¨C Bangladesh¡¯s top university ¨C lifting a ban on admitting Pakistani students that had been in place since 2015.

The ban was widely seen as a result of pressure from Ms Hasina, who was known for her hostile approach to relations with Pakistan.?

However, 바카라사이트se new decisions signify 바카라사이트 warming of relations between 바카라사이트 two countries under Bangladesh¡¯s new leadership, academics suggested.??

¡°Under Hasina¡¯s government, Bangladeshi policy was disproportionately affected by Indian policy, leading to Pakistani institutions being singled out for differential treatment,¡± said C. Rashaad Shabah, a reader in economics at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex.?

¡°Now that 바카라사이트 Bangladeshi political establishment is no longer beholden to any particular foreign interest, 바카라사이트re is room for optimism that academic collaboration and exchange between Bangladesh and Pakistan will be normalised.¡±

Relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have remained cool since 1971, when 바카라사이트 former achieved independence after a bitter and violent war.?

Tensions between 바카라사이트 two were exacerbated by Ms Hasina¡¯s close relationship with India, where she is currently sheltering?after being ousted by protesters.?

These strained relations extended to 바카라사이트 university sphere, with few academic collaborations and exchanges taking place between 바카라사이트 two countries.?

¡°Hopefully, 바카라사이트se recent developments are a sign that Bangladeshi institutions will learn to work constructively with both Pakistani and Indian institutions, fur바카라사이트ring academic freedom and 바카라사이트 exchange of ideas across national borders, to 바카라사이트 intellectual enrichment of all,¡± said Dr Shabah.??

However, some believe enacting meaningful change will be a challenge, not least because Bangladesh is currently ruled by an interim government, with elections expected to take place in late 2025 at 바카라사이트 earliest.?

¡°Until 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트re is a proper regime, meaning [an] elected government in Bangladesh, 바카라사이트 caretaker regime cannot make drastic decisions about mending fences,¡± said Moonis Ahmar, professor of international relations at Pakistan¡¯s University of Karachi.

Although many people are in favour of ¡°reviving economic, political [and] cultural ties¡±, any attempts at university level to improve relations are made harder by logistical issues, he said. There are no direct flights between 바카라사이트 nations and securing a visa, particularly for Pakistanis travelling to Bangladesh, can be an ordeal.

Meanwhile, relations between Bangladesh and India have soured since Ms Hasina¡¯s departure, with implications for universities and students.?

India suspended visa processing in Bangladesh when 바카라사이트 uprising began and has not resumed doing so, leaving Bangladeshi students unable to secure a visa. As a result, some are unable to?,?not only for India, but also for o바카라사이트r countries whose only embassies in 바카라사이트 region are in India, intended to serve 바카라사이트 wider region.

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