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Thursday March 28, 2024

Hasina violates her father’s commitment to forget, forgive

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina Wajid’s government policy of executing opposition leaders for opposing the 1971 dismemberment of Pakistan is not only a gross violation of 1974 Tripartite Agreement- signed between Islamabad, New Delhi and Dhaka- but is also in contrast to Hasina’s father Shaikh Mujeebur Rehman’s commitment to forget

By Ansar Abbasi
November 24, 2015
ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina Wajid’s government policy of executing opposition leaders for opposing the 1971 dismemberment of Pakistan is not only a gross violation of 1974 Tripartite Agreement- signed between Islamabad, New Delhi and Dhaka- but is also in contrast to Hasina’s father Shaikh Mujeebur Rehman’s commitment to forget and forgive the wrongs of the past.
The tripartite agreement even contains the then Bangladeshi Prime Minister Shaikh Mujeebur Rehman statement, which says; “The Prime Minister of Bangladesh had declared with regard to the atrocities and destruction committed in Bangladesh in 1971 that he wanted the people to forget the past and to make a fresh start, stating that the people of Bangladesh knew how to forgive.”
Singed on April 9, 1974, by the foreign ministers of the three countries, the tripartite agreement’s main purpose was to provide a firm basis for the resolution of the humanitarian problems arising out of the conflict of 1971.
However, during the recent years the Hasina Wajid government has started violating the agreement by adopting the policy of trial and execution of those opposition leaders who were loyal to Pakistan and had opposed the dismemberment of the country in 1971.
The Government of Pakistan has voiced its concerns over the recent serious human right violations in Bangladesh. Pakistan, though gravely opposed to this policy, wants to be cautious in its response in order to foil the enemy of Pakistan’s design to create hatred between the Muslims of the two countries.
The paras 14, 15 and 16 of the Tripartite Agreement are relevant to highlight the recent
violations by Dhaka. These paras read: “14. In this connection the three Ministers noted that the matter should be viewed in the context of the determination of the three countries to continue resolutely to work for reconciliation. The Ministers further noted that following recognition, the Prime Minister of Pakistan had declared that he would visit Bangladesh in response to the invitation of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and appealed to the people of Bangladesh to forgive and forget the mistakes of the past in order to promote reconciliation. Similarly, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh had declared with regard to the atrocities and destruction committed in Bangladesh in 1971 that he wanted the people to forget the past and to make a fresh start, stating that the people of Bangladesh knew how to forgive.
“15. In the light of the foregoing and, in particular, having regard to the appeal of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to the people of Bangladesh to forgive and forget the mistakes of the past, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh stated that the Government of Bangladesh had decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency. It was agreed that the 195 prisoners of war may be repatriated to Pakistan along with the other prisoners of war now in the process of repatriation under the Delhi Agreement.
“16. The Ministers expressed their conviction that the above agreements provide a firm basis for the resolution of the humanitarian problems arising out of the conflict of 1971. They reaffirmed the vital stake the 700 million people of the three countries have in peace and progress and reiterated the resolve of their Governments to work for the promotion of normalization of relations and the establishment of durable peace in the sub-continent.”