Bangladesh has strongly protested Pakistan’s remarks over the executions of two top war criminals and termed Islamabad’s statement as “unacceptable”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday termed as “ not acceptable” the Pakistani statement and favoured a strong protest from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her reactions at a regular Cabinet meeting were reported by a newspaper.
In the statement on Sunday, hours after the executions took place in Dhaka, a spokesperson of Pakistan Foreign Ministry said, "We have noted with deep concern and anguish the unfortunate executions… Pakistan is deeply disturbed at this development”.
One of the top BNP leaders, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, an young Muslim League leader in 1971 who was considered a “terror” in Chittagong as a collaborator of the Pakistan army, and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, chief of notorious Al-Badr killing squad , were hanged on Sunday after the country’s Supreme Court upheld their death sentences for crimes against humanity during Bangladesh’s liberation war in 1971.
Siding with the Pakistan, two of them committed atrocities against pro-liberation people and the members of the Hindu minority community.
However, the Pakistani statement also stated the “need for reconciliation in accordance with the spirit of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh Agreement of 1974”.
Pakistan foreign ministry issued another statement in December 2013, and Pakistan National Assembly and Punjab Provincial Assembly adopted resolutions over the execution of war criminal Quader Mollah, prompting Dhaka to lodge a formal protest with the Pakistan high commissioner to Bangladesh.
The statement this time also drew sharp reactions across Bangladesh and Pakistani high commissioner in Dhaka, Shuja Alam, was summoned on Monday, to handover a strong-worded protest memo .
Ministers, politicians, war crimes campaigners and freedom fighters said, the Pakistani statement was a blatant violation of diplomatic norms and interference in Bangladesh's domestic issues.
After a meeting with Pakistani envoy, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary (Bilateral and Consular) Mizanur Rahman, said “We have strongly protested against the [Pakistani] comments” .
‘Won’t affect relations’
Meanwhile State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on Monday protested Pakistan’s reaction over the execution of two top war criminals but he said it would not affect the two countries’ bilateral relations.
“A single incident cannot be the yardstick for cutting off or rebuild relations with a country,” the Minister said while talking to reporters.
