Bangladesh ties with Islamabad

Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali on Sunday said his government is assessing its ties with Pakistan after Islamabad lodged protest against the country’s war crimes trial and denied that atrocities were committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

“The whole matter is a continuous process,” he said at a function in Dhaka marking the 44th anniversary of India recognising Bangladesh as an independent country.

The Minister said many Pakistanis have admitted the crimes committed by their forces during the 1971 war. “There is no use denying them now, telling that they did not do anything. It’s ridiculous.”

Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Nov 22 made a statement, voicing “deep concern and anguish” over the death sentence of key Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, both convicted over crimes against humanity.

Islamabad’s reaction prompted Dhaka to summon the Pakistan envoy. Pakistan, in turn, summoned Bangladesh’s envoy in Islamabad and denied committing any war crimes or atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War.

Talking about the country’srelationship with India, Mr. Mahmood Ali said it was in a very good state after1975 and that the problems were “psychological which needed to be resolved witheveryone’s participation.”