Bangladesh anger mounts as Pakistan denies war crimes

Civil society members and mainstream media in Bangladesh on Wednesday asked the government to sever ties with Pakistan as anger mounted over Islamabad’s denial of committing war crimes during Bangladesh’s independence conflict in 1971.

The two countries have been engaged in a war of words following the executions in Bangladesh last week of senior Opposition leaders convicted of war crimes during the conflict.

Pakistan on Monday “rejected insinuation of ‘complicity in committing crimes or war atrocities’.” It also voiced “deep concern and anguish” over the execution of war criminals.

Dhaka University’s vice-chancellor professor A.A.M.S. Arefin Siddique joined several distinguished people on Tuesday to oppose Pakistan’s “blatant inference” in its internal affairs as the country began the month-long celebration marking the 44th anniversary of December 16, 1971 Victory Day.

“Its (Pakistan) statement over the ongoing trial of the war criminals is blatant interference in our domestic affairs,” he told a rally.

“After this (statement), there is no scope to maintain the diplomatic relation with Pakistan and our government should sever diplomatic ties with the country unless they seek unconditional apology”.

Sector Commanders Forum, the grouping of liberation war commanders, made an identical demand.The forum’s chairperson and Bangladesh’s first Army Chief General Safiullah said in a statement, “Bangladesh should not maintain any diplomatic relations with Pakistan after the way it expressed concern, issued a statement and protested over the war crimes trial.”

Mass circulation Prothom Alo in an editorial said, “after the execution of two convicted war criminals” Pakistan continued to show an “audacious attitude”.

“But they (Pakistan) exceeded the limit at last by denying the responsibilities of genocide committed during the liberation war after summoning Bangladesh’s acting high commissioner in Islamabad,” the Alo editorial read.