Bangladesh’s acting high commissioner was summoned to the Foreign Office on Monday, where a protest was lodged against statements recently made by his government.
In a statement by the Foreign Office, it was stated that the acting high commissioner was summoned by the Director General (SA & Saarc) and informed that the Pakistani government rejected the Bangladesh government’s baseless and unfounded assertions of 23rd November. DG SA & SAARC also added that Pakistan rejected insinuation of “complicity in committing crimes or war atrocities” and said:
“It is regrettable that attempts have been made by the government of Bangladesh to malign Pakistan, despite our ardent desire to develop brotherly relations with Bangladesh.”
A statement issued by the FO spokesman lamented that despite Pakistan’s belief in the desire of citizens of both countries to strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood, the government of Bangladesh did not seem to respect these sentiments. The statement added that the 1974 tripartite agreement was the “bedrock of relations between the two countries”. With regards to the Bangladesh government’s contention that Pakistan presents a “misleading interpretation of the agreement”, the statement read that it needed to be emphasised that the government of Bangladesh had ‘decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency’ because of the agreement.
“Pakistan reiterates its desire for further enhancing relations with Bangladesh because we believe that the hearts of the people of Pakistan beat in unison with the people of Bangladesh.”
The spokesman added that the people of both countries played a vital role in the struggle for the establishment of a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent – something which should not be forgotten, and which made it necssary to move forward in the spirit of goodwill, friendship and harmony for the collective good of the peoples of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
