BD protests Pak condemnation over Nizami's execution

Bangladesh on Thursday conveyed strong protest against the press release uploaded in Pakistan foreign ministry's website and subsequent passing of a Resolution at its National Assembly yesterday on the execution of Motiur Rahman Nizami, a convict of crimes against humanity and genocide in Bangladesh in 1971.

 

High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Shuja Alam was called up at Bangladesh foreign ministry this afternoon when Secretary (Bilateral) Mizanur Rahman handed over a note verbale to him in this regard, a foreign ministry statement said, reports BSS.

 

"Pakistan has once again acknowledged its direct involvement and complicity with the mass atrocity crimes committed during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971 by repeatedly taking the side of those Bangladesh nationals who are convicted of crimes against humanity and genocide," the note read.

 

It added, "So doing, it is also relentlessly opposing Bangladesh's efforts to ensure justice and break the culture of impunity for the crimes committed forty five years ago".

 

The note stated that the Government of Bangladesh strongly repudiated Pakistan's version of Nizami's 'only sin', as mentioned in the Pakistan Foreign Office's press release was to uphold the Constitution of Pakistan, whereas it was in abeyance at that time. 

 

"In fact, he was tried for specific crimes he committed during the war of liberation of Bangladesh", the note verbal added.

 

It was further stated that the International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh (ICT-BD) trials took solely into consideration the crimes against humanity and genocide in Bangladesh committed by Nizami during 1971 and was not at all based on his political identity or affiliation. 

 

The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Nizami to death for planning, instigating and executing genocide, murder, torture, rape and deportation among other crimes in Pabna and Dhaka during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the note pointed out.

 

The note stated that Nizami belonged to some opposing political party is only a "coincidence" as far as the trials are concerned.