Pakistan has decided not to say anything about 1971 war crimes trial “at all level” amid fears of losing market in Bangladesh and further straining relations.
“This is their decision at the highest level,” Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York AK Abdul Momen told bdnews24.com.
He said his Pakistani counterpart Masood Khan ‘verbally’ conveyed the message to him.
The decision came after Bangladesh’s formal protest against a Pakistan Parliament resolution denouncing the hanging of war criminal Abdul Quader Molla and a call for severing diplomatic relations.
Youths of the Ganajagaran Mancha also reacted furiously to the Pakistan’s statement against the trial.
The Mancha also called upon Bangladeshis to boycott Pakistani products.
In 2012-13 fiscal, according to the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce of Industries, Pakistan exported products worth $ 488.4 million to Bangladesh and imported goods only worth $ 68.70 million.
Over the past decade, Pakistan’s exports to Bangladesh grew at an annual average rate of nearly 28 percent.
Momen, however, said he was not sure whether Pakistan’s decision came in the wake of Bangladesh’s protest.
“He (Masood Khan) just conveyed me verbally that they had decided not to do or pursue or talk anything about the war crimes trial.
“They want to strengthen and maintain brotherly relations with Bangladesh,” he said.
Bangladesh has lodged ‘a strong protest’ against the resolutions Pakistan’s National Assembly adopted in December, summoning its High Commissioner in Dhaka.
The Pakistan national and provincial assemblies adopted resolution expressing concern over the hanging of Molla.
Molla was executed on Dec 12 night for his crimes against humanity including mass murder during the war of independence against Pakistan.
The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami of which Molla was a senior leader had sided with Pakistan during the nine months of independence war.
Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami earlier opposed the execution, saying Molla was hanged to death because “he was loyal to Pakistan and supported Pakistan army during the 1971 war”.
The resolution was moved by the Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also expressed “deep grief” and concern over his execution.
Dhaka also protested his remarks.
The Ganajagaran Mancha’ that came into existence after Molla got a life sentence in the war crimes trial, which many in Bangladesh felt was too lenient, also marched towards the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court later revised Molla’s sentence to death penalty.
Source: bdnews24
I feel ashamed after reading a news here. According to a report from Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Pakistan exported its products worth $ 448.4 million dollars to Bangladesh and imported from Bangladeshi goods worth only $ 68.4 million dollars. I think people should look into this.