Bangladesh has formally demanded a public apology from Pakistan for atrocities committed by the Pakistani military during the 1971 war, which led to the country’s independence.
The demand was put forward during a high-level diplomatic meeting held in Dhaka on Thursday, marking the first such engagement between the two nations in 15 years. The discussions touched on long-standing unresolved issues between the two countries.
In addition to the apology, Bangladesh is also seeking financial reparations totalling $4.52 billion from Pakistan. The claims cover Bangladesh’s share of pre-independence Pakistan’s foreign reserves, unpaid provident funds owed to public servants, and unsettled foreign aid commitments dating back to the country’s liberation.
“We raised the historical unsettled issues with Pakistan, including a formal public apology for the atrocities committed during the 1971 liberation war and the pending financial claims,” Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin told reporters after the meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, Amna Baloch.
He added, “Pakistan has assured us of continued engagement on these matters. Resolving them is essential to laying a strong foundation for our bilateral relations.”
While Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Amna Baloch, who arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday for a diplomatic visit, did not make any public statements during her trip, officials noted that the tone of discussions remained cordial.
Another key issue raised by Dhaka was the repatriation of more than 324,000 stranded Pakistanis, mostly referred to as “Biharis,” who have lived in refugee camps across Bangladesh for over five decades since the end of the war.
According to Bangladeshi estimates, the nine-month conflict in 1971 resulted in the deaths of approximately 3 million people and left lasting scars that continue to influence the countries’ bilateral relationship.
The latest round of talks is seen as a significant opportunity to address these long-standing grievances and rebuild diplomatic ties between the two South Asian nations.