Bangladesh urges Pakistan apology for 1971 ‘crimes’

[HAIDER]

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Wednesday urged Pakistan to apologise formally for alleged atrocities committed by its army during Bangladesh’s bloody liberation struggle in 1971.

Bangladeshi officials have said three million people were killed during the fight for independence for what was then East Pakistan, and the new government in Dhaka has vowed to try suspected war criminals.

In a meeting with Pakistan’s High Commissioner on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni raised the issue of ‘seeking formal apologies by Pakistan for the genocide in 1971,’ a written statement said.

A Pakistani envoy told Bangladesh in February to let ‘bygones be bygones’ and rejected plans to try those accused of murder, rape and arson.

A private Dhaka-based group that has investigated the conflict has named 1,775 people, including Pakistani generals and local militants allied with Pakistan, as war crime suspects.
DAWN.COM | World | Bangladesh urges Pakistan apology for 1971 ?crimes?

 

[PeacefulIndian]

Too late for any such actions now. I don't see any sense in trials being held now, unless Bangladesh is looking to pick a fight with Pakistan for whatever reasons.

 

[Jako]

Yeah.....and the trials are specifically for individuals.....half of whom are already dead ,and half dont have enough time left......this would yield nothing......infact charges of mass killing should have been appropriate....thnx

 

[godsavetheworld]

Dhaka asks Pakistan to say sorry for genocide
Tue, May 12th, 2009 10:00 pm BdST Dial 2324 from your mobile for latest news



Dhaka, May 12 (bdnews24.com)—Foreign minister Dipu Moni has urged Pakistan to apologise for the genocide its army had committed in the Bangladesh's war of independence from that country in 1971.

She raised issue on Tuesday when Pakistan high commissioner Alamgir Bashar Khan Babar met with her at her office, according to the foreign ministry.

The foreign minister also stressed that Islamabad should take millions of stranded Pakistanis back and settle disputes over sharing of resources.

"During the meeting the foreign minister raised the issue of resolving the unsettled matters pending for last 38 years between the two countries.

"These included sharing of assets, seeking formal apologies by Pakistan for the genocide in 1971, repatriation of stranded Pakistanis and others," the ministry said in a press statement released after the meeting.

The envoy had come to hand over a message condoling the death of prime minister Sheikh Hasina's husband Dr M A Wazed Miah.

The high commissioner said the foreign secretaries would take up the issues at the meeting. The date of the foreign secretary-level talks is yet to be fixed.

Foreign ministry officials said Dipu Moni raised the apology issue for the first time since she took office in Jan 6.

The ruling Awami League, which led the war, has been demanding apology for the killing of three million Bangladeshis and rape of 300,000 women by the Pakistan army during the bloody nine-month war.

Pakistan does not recognise the killing of three million Bangladeshis, . Its former president Gen Parvez Musharraf during his trip to Dhaka in July 2002 apologised to Bangladesh for "developments in 1971".


Dhaka asks Pakistan to say sorry for genocide :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::

 

[wtf]

Same story ?
http://www.defence.pk/forums/strate...-pakistan-apology-1971-crimes.html#post376355

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Wednesday urged Pakistan to apologise formally for alleged atrocities committed by its army during Bangladesh’s bloody liberation struggle in 1971.

Bangladeshi officials have said three million people were killed during the fight for independence for what was then East Pakistan, and the new government in Dhaka has vowed to try suspected war criminals.

In a meeting with Pakistan’s High Commissioner on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni raised the issue of ‘seeking formal apologies by Pakistan for the genocide in 1971,’ a written statement said.

A Pakistani envoy told Bangladesh in February to let ‘bygones be bygones’ and rejected plans to try those accused of murder, rape and arson.

A private Dhaka-based group that has investigated the conflict has named 1,775 people, including Pakistani generals and local militants allied with Pakistan, as war crime suspects.
DAWN.COM | World | Bangladesh urges Pakistan apology for 1971 ?crimes?

So long as Bangladesh also apologizes for atrocities committed upon West Pakistanis and Biharis in East Pakistan.

Secondly, no 'official apology' should be forthcoming until a neutral and mutually agreed upon commission investigates the events of 1971 - so long as the canard of '3 million killed' continues to be perpetuated, Pakistan should not entertain any such requests.

 

[Patriot]

Pakistan will never entertain such request Agno.Just regular propoganda by Bdeshis to get more votes from their people!

 

[Mirage2000]

Let bygones be bygones, Pakistan urges Bangladesh​

Thursday, 14 May, 2009 | 05:45 PM PST |
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged Bangladesh to let bygones be bygones with regard to alleged atrocities committed by the Pakistani security forces in 1971.

Foreign Office spokesman, Abdul Basit in his weekly briefing said that the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dipu Moni had asked Pakistan to apologise for the alleged war crimes.

The spokesman said Pakistan believes the matter as settled under the April 1974 tripartite agreement between Pakistan, India and Bangladesh in which Pakistan condemned and regretted any atrocities committed.

In 2002 the then President of Pakistan had also regretted any wrongs done in 1971, the spokesman added.

He said Pakistan gives great importance to good relations with Bangladesh, and it is better for both countries to move forward instead of being frozen in the past.
DAWN.COM | World | Let bygones be bygones, Pakistan urges Bangladesh

 

[TOPGUN]

Wats done is done! time to move on! we admire Bangladesh hope the friedship stays for a long time!

 

[Mirage2000]

These kind of statements from BD can be expected when there is pro India govt: in power.Hope this does'nt become a big issue.If BD keeps on insisting such things the Pak BD relations will be harmed.

 

[Al-zakir]

Dhaka asks Pakistan to apologise for 1971 genocide

The foreign minister also stressed that Islamabad should take millions of stranded Pakistanis back and settle disputes over sharing of resources.

Wednesday May 13 2009 10:15:25 AM BDT

Foreign minister Dipu Moni has urged Pakistan to apologise for the genocide its army had committed in the Bangladesh's war of independence from that country in 1971. She raised issue on Tuesday when Pakistan high commissioner Alamgir Bashar Khan Babar met with her at her office, according to the foreign ministry.(bdnews24.com)

The foreign minister also stressed that Islamabad should take millions of stranded Pakistanis back and settle disputes over sharing of resources.

"During the meeting the foreign minister raised the issue of resolving the unsettled matters pending for last 38 years between the two countries.

"These included sharing of assets, seeking formal apologies by Pakistan for the genocide in 1971, repatriation of stranded Pakistanis and others," the ministry said in a press statement released after the meeting.

The envoy had come to hand over a message condoling the death of prime minister Sheikh Hasina's husband Dr M A Wazed Miah. The high commissioner said the foreign secretaries would take up the issues at the meeting. The date of the foreign secretary-level talks is yet to be fixed.

Foreign ministry officials said Dipu Moni raised the apology issue for the first time since she took office in Jan 6.

The ruling Awami League, which led the war, has been demanding apology for the killing of three million Bangladeshis and rape of 300,000 women by the Pakistan army during the bloody nine-month war.

Pakistan does not recognise the killing of three million Bangladeshis, though. Its former president Gen Parvez Musharraf during his trip to Dhaka in July 2002 apologised to Bangladesh for "developments in 1971".

Dipu Moni emphasised launching direct shipping services between Chittagong and Karachi ports to boost the bilateral trade.

"Bilateral trade and commerce, zero-tariff for export of products from Bangladesh to Pakistan, abolition of visa system for diplomatic and official passports and information sharing for combating terrorism were discussed in the meeting," the statement said.

The current volume of trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan is around $600 million.

Bangladesh imports cotton, yearn, fruits and other garment raw materials from Pakistan, while it exports mainly jute and tea. Businesses say the absence of direct shipping facilities is one of the main obstacles to increasing trade.

They say the small volume of cargo would not make the direct shipping service "profitable". Both countries at its foreign secretary-level talks have earmarked increasing the volume to $2 billion. Direct shipping service between the two port cities will help enhancing the trade volumes, businessmen say.

The envoy sought Bangladesh's support for Pakistani candidature for international bodies like OIC, IAEA, UNDP and UNFPA, according to the statement

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=263295

 

[TopCat]

Saying sorry does not make anybody lesser in any sense but makes somebody bigger.. Pakistan should say sorry which is even the demand of many enlightened Pakistanis. The late Benajir Butto herself admitted the crime committed by the Pakistan including killing and raping on the record. She was very close to say sorry about 1971.
Bygones can only be bygones, once the defaulted party admits the wrongdoing and feel sorry about it.



I dont support Dipu Moni regarding Stranded Pakistanis. They are already given citizenship of Bangladesh. The newer generation dont want to go to Pakistan as they already became Bengalis and mostly forgot Urdu. We dont want any Bangladeshi to be sent to any foreign land anymore. Its a close issue.

 

[TopCat]

Yeah.....and the trials are specifically for individuals.....half of whom are already dead ,and half dont have enough time left......this would yield nothing......infact charges of mass killing should have been appropriate....thnx

The trial is rather symbolic and to eshtablish rule of law which is very necessary for our society. This is rather issue of ideology which still divides our country. This needs to be settled once and for all...

Whether those people are dead alive or half dead does not matter but truth and justice should prevail which is good for both Pakistan and Bangladesh.

 

[Beskar]

Saying sorry does not make anybody lesser in any sense but makes somebody bigger.. Pakistan should say sorry which is even the demand of many enlightened Pakistanis. The late Benajir Butto herself admitted the crime committed by the Pakistan including killing and raping on the record. She was very close to say sorry about 1971.
Bygones can only be bygones, once the defaulted party admits the wrongdoing and feel sorry about it.

Your 'Reasoning' is laughable. Pakistan should say sorry because it's even the demand of 'Many Enlightened Pakistanis'? What is that, another fashion statement? Please provide some proof to back up your claims.

This whole apology thing is ridiculous. It's like asking the current generation of German people to issue an apology to the Jews for the crimes committed against them by their grandparents in WW2. It doesn't make any sense.

This vote gathering political fiasco is getting to some people's heads.

 

[blain2]

Saying sorry does not make anybody lesser in any sense but makes somebody bigger.. Pakistan should say sorry which is even the demand of many enlightened Pakistanis. The late Benajir Butto herself admitted the crime committed by the Pakistan including killing and raping on the record. She was very close to say sorry about 1971.
Bygones can only be bygones, once the defaulted party admits the wrongdoing and feel sorry about it.



I dont support Dipu Moni regarding Stranded Pakistanis. They are already given citizenship of Bangladesh. The newer generation dont want to go to Pakistan as they already became Bengalis and mostly forgot Urdu. We dont want any Bangladeshi to be sent to any foreign land anymore. Its a close issue.

Iajdani,

Pakistan has accepted responsibility. Once in 1974 and once again recently when Musharraf visited your country. There is a financial implication in this demand and thus Pakistan does not want to be dragged into this affair. Recriminations go both ways and would be an unnecessary and distracting affair.

If you really want an apology then how about a tried and tested method of going the route of Truth and reconciliation tribunals as in South Africa? No legal implications but everyone comes clean and accepts his or her responsibility and we can then all move on. This is the best way to deal with this problem.