We should reply in a language Pakistan understands: Imam
Prime minister’s political adviser HT Imam described recent relations with Pakistan as ‘war-like situation’ and warned that Bangladesh should reply ‘in a language the Pakistan can understand.’
‘Today we are facing a new crisis in a sense that Pakistan has now all of a sudden started… as if they see a war with us. If they are indeed at war with us they are most welcome. I think we should be replying in the language they understand,’ Imam said while addressing a seminar at National Defence College at Mirpur Cantonment in the city.
The Prime Minister’s political adviser made the statement a day after Pakistan on Monday summoned the acting Bangladesh high commissioner in Islamabad and denied that it committed war crimes and atrocities in Bangladesh.
Imam also called out Pakistan on the 195 repatriated war criminals handed over to them and asked they conduct their trial.
Eminent lawyer Rokan Uddin Mahmud stopped Imam in the middle of his speech and said ‘you are duty-bound to the people who fought the liberation war and lost their lives to catch some Pakistanis and to try them in absentia. You will not get all 195 as many of them have died.’ He suggested to capture at least 10 to 20 Pakistanis out of the 195 war criminals.
Rokan was one of the six panelists at the seminar on ‘Development framework for political parties: chapter in the Bangladesh Constitution’ jointly organised by United Nations Development Programme, National Defence College and Department of International Relations of Dhaka University.
Imam resumed his speech agreeing with the Rokan’s proposal and extended support to the suggestions amid applause from audience, mostly military officers and government officials.
The Prime Minister’s political adviser said that he had the documents of the Pakistani occupation forces.
‘I still I have the map drawn by Rao Farman Ali and I have the copy of letter to Rao Farman Ali written by Khan-e-Sabur where he said these are the people who support Pakistan and who are the friends of Pakistan, and these are the people who opposed Pakistan so they should be sent to gallows,’ he added.
Major General Rao Farman Ali (1923–2004) was one of top planners of genocidal Operation Searchlight in 1971.
The relation between two countries appeared to have deteriorated as Bangladesh were irked by Pakistan’s interference in its internal affairs relating to the execution of two top war criminals – Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojhaheed.
Pakistan has so far made statement on Bangladesh’s internal affairs at least five times since November 2013, through various ways, centering the trial of war criminals.
Bangladesh, earlier in its protest note, informed Pakistan authorities that the unsolicited comments were nothing less than ‘brazen interference’ in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, which was ‘unacceptable’ and hoped that Pakistan would refrain from continuing such uncalled for statements.
In Tuesday’s seminar, most of the panelists and discussants agreed that those who opposed country’s liberation war have no right to do politics in the country.
They underscored the need for specific laws for political parties aimed at ensuring their transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and internal democracy.
Dhaka University International Relations professor Imtiaz Ahmed, who moderated the seminar, suggested for inclusion of a chapter in the country’s constitution in this regard. He placed an 11-point draft framework of the chapter, which includes the clear definition of a political party, its goals, missions and objectives, internal structure, its eligibility for financial support from the state and liability.
Jurist Shahdeen Malik, ruling party lawmaker Faruk Khan, Kazi Habibul Awal, senior secretary of Ministry of Defence, Robert Watkins, resident coordinator of UNDP, among others, addressed the seminar while Lieutenant General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy, Commandant of National Defence College, gave the welcome speech at the seminar.
- See more at: http://newagebd.net/180721/we-should-reply-in-a-language-pakistan-understands-imam/#sthash.7YEDOsGG.dpuf