Bangladesh urges Pakistan to apologize for 1971 atrocities
For the first time in 15 years, senior diplomats from Bangladesh and Pakistan held bilateral talks in Dhaka, where Bangladesh pressed Islamabad to address unresolved historical grievances, including a formal apology for the 1971 atrocities.
During the foreign secretary-level meeting, Bangladesh called on Pakistan to acknowledge and apologize publicly for the genocide committed by the Pakistani military during Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971. Additionally, Dhaka demanded $4.3 billion from Pakistan as its rightful share of the financial and state assets that were divided following the breakup of East and West Pakistan.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, M Jashim Uddin, briefed the media after the talks, stating that several longstanding issues were brought up. These included the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis still living in Bangladesh, a just division of pre-1971 national assets, the transfer of foreign assistance intended for victims of the devastating 1970 cyclone, and a long-awaited apology for the wartime atrocities.
“This is the right time to address and resolve these legacy issues in order to lay a more solid foundation for the future,” Jashim Uddin said, emphasizing that resolution of these matters would benefit both nations.
When asked if Pakistan had agreed to the requests, the Bangladeshi official said Islamabad responded with a positive tone and showed willingness to continue dialogue on the topics in the future.
In its official statement, Pakistan's Foreign Office described the meeting as constructive, highlighting that both sides explored ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The discussions included a wide range of issues, from political and economic ties to trade, agriculture, education, environmental concerns, cultural exchange, and defense collaboration.
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