Following Bangladesh's secession, Pakistan eventually recognised Bangladesh in February 1974 and diplomatic relations were established. In January 1976, both countries exchanged their envoys for the first time and the Bangladeshi embassy in Islamabad became functional. Initially, the embassy was operated from a "cluttered, four‐room hotel suite" in the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi, where Bangladesh's first envoy Zahiruddin had set up a temporary base, before moving to its permanent location. In 1989, the embassy became a High Commission following Pakistan's rejoining of the Commonwealth after leaving in 1972.