Terming Pakistan as rogue state, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has refused to make any particular comment on Bangladesh’s monetary claim to Pakistan.
“Pakistan is a rogue state and the people of the country should change themselves psychologically but I think it is complicated to predict anything on the claim by Bangladesh,” he said replying to a query in the House on Monday.
Referring the wealth distribution between India and Pakistan after the separation in 1947, the minister said there was a mediator who did not take a side.
He said Bangladesh started to place the claim when the diplomatic relation established between the two countries.
Recalling the first visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after independence, he said: “Our Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman placed the claim strongly and I was the member of that delegation.”
He said Bhutto did not respond to that claim. “He refused to discuss anything with us regarding that claim.”
The minister also admitted that the discussion never went on as Pakistan never admitted our claim.
“This is the character of Pakistan. But whenever our delegation meets with Pakistan we uphold the demand,” he said.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
