Bangladesh summons Pak envoy over war criminal remarks

Dhaka: The Foreign Ministry has summoned Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Bangladesh Shuja Alam this afternoon to lodge a formal protest over Islamabad’s statement on the former’s Supreme Court verdict that dismissed review plea of war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami.

Foreign Secretary (bilateral) Mizanur Rahman has summoned the High Commissioner at the ministry between 3-4 p.m., reports the Daily Star.

Bangladesh in a stern note had previously asked Pakistan to stop interfering in its internal affairs.

The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan in a statement issued on Friday expressed “deep concern and anguish” over the Bangladesh Supreme Court’s dismissal of the review petition of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Nizami.

Responding to Islamabad’s statement, Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, said those being tried for their crimes against humanity are Bangladeshi citizens but Pakistan was sad for them.

Alam asked Islamabad to stop misleading the people with reference to the agreement between Pakistan, India and Bangladesh on April 9, 1974, in which the three countries agreed not to proceed with the trial of 195 prisoners of war repatriated to Pakistan.

He pressed the agreement never implied that the masterminds and perpetrators of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity would continue to enjoy impunity. (ANI)