Dhaka – Pakistan National Assembly’s resolution expressing concern over the execution of Bangladesh’s war crimes convict Abdul Quader Mollah sparked strong protests and widespread condemnation across the country on Wednesday.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strongly condemned the Pakistan National Assembly’s resolution in her opening speech at a meeting of 14-party alliance at her official residence at Ganobhaban in the evening.
Various political parties and socio-cultural organisations, including Ganajagaran Manch, also denounced Pakistan’s interference in domestic issues of Bangladesh going beyond diplomatic norms.
Ganajagaran Manch in the evening asked the government to sever all diplomatic ties with Pakistan within 20 hours, threatening to lay a siege to Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka again on Thursday.
Dr Imran H Sarkar, spokesperson of the manch, came up with the ultimatum from a demonstration near the Pakistan High Commission at Gulshan-2 around 6pm.
Earlier, over 2,000 activists staged a rally at Gulshan-2. When they tried to proceed towards the Pakistan High Commission, police intercepted them.
Meanwhile, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Gano Forum, IDEB Samajik Sangskritik Parishad, Bangabandhu Diploma Engineers Parishad, Peshajeebi Nari Samaj and Jatiya Nari Jote, among others, came up with strongly worded protests against the Pakistan resolution.
In a joint statement, JSD President and Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu and its general secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia said, “We’re deeply annoyed and shocked with the reaction of the Pakistan National Assembly and Punjab Legislative Assembly to the execution of Quader Mollah following Bangladesh Supreme Court’s verdict.”
“The audacity they’ve showed is tantamount to interference in domestic issues of another country,” the statement said.
The JSD leaders also urged Pakistan to seek apology to the people of Bangladesh immediately confessing their crimes they had done during the 1971 Liberation War.
In another joint statement, Gano Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain and general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Mantu demanded the withdrawal of the resolution adopted by the Pakistani National Assembly and condemned the unjust inference.
The statement singed by its office secretary Nawab Ali said, “The resolution the Pakistani National Assembly adopted and the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan are unacceptable and tantamount to interference in internal issues and sovereignty of Bangladesh.”
Besides, angered at Pakistan’s reaction to the execution of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah, people torched the flag of Pakistan in Chittagong and Bogra districts.
Meanwhile, a Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman said Bangladesh should avoid blame game and the two countries should try to strengthen their relations.
“Bangladesh is our neighboring Islamic country and Pakistan wants to strengthen ties with it,” the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement on Wednesday, reports Radio Pakistan.
On Monday, the Pakistan National Assembly adopted the resolution expressing concern over the execution of Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah for ‘his loyalty with Pakistan’ in 1971.
The resolution moved by Sher Akbar Khan also expressed condolences with Bangladesh and family members of Abdul Quader Mollah.
On Tuesday, Dhaka strongly protested the adaptation of the resolution.
Pakistan High Commissioner Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi was summoned to the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh and was apprised of Dhaka’s position over the adoption of the Pakistan NA resolution. – UNB
