Dhaka: Runa Laila, a legendary singer from Bangladesh, has said that she has not been invited to go to Pakistan. A Bangladeshi cultural delegation headed by Runa Laila was invited to visit Pakistan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Monday as he greeted Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on the occasion of Eid.
After speaking with Muhammad Yunus, Shehbaz Sharif posted on X, “Reiterated my cordial invitation to Dr. Yunus to visit Pakistan at his convenience and invited a cultural troupe from Bangladesh to come to Pakistan, with the legendary Ms. Runa Laila.” However, Runa Laila refused to accept the invitation.
“This travel to Pakistan is unknown to me. “I have not been invited,” Runa Laila said on the phone with ANI on Tuesday evening.
However, according to diplomatic sources in Dhaka, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is anticipated to go to Bangladesh for a three-day visit on April 22.
“On April 22, the foreign minister of Pakistan will go to Dhaka for three days. Since he is also Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and close aide to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, this visit is very significant. During his visit, Bangladesh and Pakistan will sign a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding,” a senior official informed ANI without providing more details.
During the phone conversation with Muhammad Yunus, Shehbaz Sharif also brought up the Pakistani Foreign Minister’s impending visit.
“Looking forward to DPM/FM’s visit to Dhaka on 22 April accompanied by a trade delegation,” Shehbaz Sharif said on X.
A student-led rebellion overthrew Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration on August 5 of last year. According to the UN fact-finding mission, the violence claimed 1,400 lives.
A provisional administration headed by Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, gained power when Sheikh Hasina fled to India.
The administration of Yunus took action to improve ties with Pakistan. Chittagong and Karachi began shipping directly to one another. Permission to operate direct flights between the two nations was granted to Fly Jinnah.
Additionally, there was an upsurge in cultural exchanges between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Accordingly, a number of Pakistani musicians have been to Bangladesh in recent months.
