Govt assessing ties with Pakistan
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday said Bangladesh was evaluating its relationship with Pakistan and thinking about measures that could be taken over Pakistan's reaction to the execution of two war criminals last month.
“We're evaluating our relations with them [Pakistan]. We're also thinking of what needs to be done. But the entire thing is a continuous process,” he said while addressing a discussion in the city's WVA auditorium.
Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the discussion tilted “Relationship between Bangladesh-India in the Touchstone of Time” with the committee's adviser Justice Syed Amirul Islam in the chair.
The discussion marked the 44th anniversary of the recognition of Bangladesh as an independent country by India. Hours after Bhutan's recognition, India recognised Bangladesh as an independent country on December 6, 1971.
The foreign minister said many Pakistanis, including human rights activist Asma Jahangir and journalist Hamid Mir, admitted that war crimes were committed in 1971.
He said former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf also apologised for his country's role in 1971. “Now there is no point of denying it that they didn't do anything. It's ridiculous.”
On November 22, Pakistan's foreign ministry in a statement voiced “deep concern and anguish” over the capital punishments of Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.
It prompted Bangladesh to summon the Pakistan envoy in Dhaka for lodging a formal protest the next day.
In an apparent response to Bangladesh's move, Pakistan on November 30 summoned acting high commissioner of Bangladesh Maushumi Rahman to its foreign ministry and denied committing any war crimes or atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War.
Pakistan also rejected Bangladesh's statement that trashed Islamabad's concern over the recent executions of Mojaheed and Salauddin.
Pakistan's moves triggered outrage in Bangladesh as war crimes trial campaigners accused the country of “resorting to falsehood” over its role in 1971.
On Bangladesh-India relations, the foreign minister said the relations between the two countries have reached a new height after 1975. “The problems between Bangladesh and India are psychological and need to be resolved with everyone's participation.”
Describing various aspects of the relationship, he said the Bangladesh Visa Office in Agartala had been upgraded to an assistant high commission and an assistant high commissioner took over charge yesterday.
Eminent historian Prof Muntassir Mamoon said the relationship between Bangladesh and India went through many ups and downs over the years. He urged the authorities to solve the problems like visa and border killings.
The historian suggested that the government become more vocal in the international arena against Pakistan over the crimes it had committed during 1971.
Prof Ajoy Roy, president of Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minority and also father of slain blogger Avijit Roy, called upon the new generation to confront religious fanatics.
Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, vice-president of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, also spoke at the programme.
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