The Bangladesh government today handed over a 'strongly-worded' protest letter to Pakistan's envoy over Islamabad's statement on the former's Supreme Court verdict dismissing the review plea of condemned war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami.
Pakistan High Commissioner in Bangladesh Shuja Alam was summoned by the Bangladesh foreign ministry this afternoon and handed over a formal protest letter over the statement issued by Pakistan Foreign Office on May 6, reports the Daily Star.
Alam met Bangladesh Foreign Secretary (Bilateral) Mizanur Rahman at the ministry at 3 p.m.
During the 15-minute meeting, Mr. Rahman conveyed his government's dissatisfaction over the Pakistan Foreign Office statement.
"The statement issued by Pakistan Foreign Office is totally unacceptable," the Daily Star quoted Rahman, as saying after the meeting.
The Pakistan envoy on receiving the note verbale, said he would convey the message to his government.
More From This Section
The Pakistan Foreign Office in its May 6 statement, said, "We have noted with deep concern and anguish the dismissal of the review application on the death sentence by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh for Mr Motiur Rahman Nizami, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami."
Referring to Tripartite agreement of April 1974, the statement said, "There is a need for reconciliation in Bangladesh in accordance with the spirit of the tripartite agreement of April 1974 which calls for a forward looking approach in matters relating to the events of 1971."
Following the statement, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam yesterday expressed disappointment and asked Islamabad to stop interfering in Bangladesh's internal affairs.
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.