Bangladesh
1971 Genocide Genocide: Protesters gherao Pakistan embassy, demands apology
Dhaka, December 15: Protesters of an organisation gheraod the Pakistani embassy and issued a memorandum demanding an apology from the country to Bangladesh for the genocide and intellectual killings of 1971. Bangladesh Muktiyuddha Mancha held a rally at the foot of the Raju sculpture of Dhaka University on Saturday afternoon demanding the same.
Later, when they marched towards the embassy, the police stopped them at Shahbag and took the six-member delegation to the Pakistani embassy. There, Ashraful Islam, DC of the Diplomatic Police, received a memorandum on behalf of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Barrister Turin Afroz, sculptor-artist Rasha, President of Bangladesh Muktiyuddha Mancha Aminul Islam Bulbul, General Secretary Md. Al Mamun, AZU Prince, Legal Secretary of the organization and Sonnet Mahmud, President of Dhaka University Branch.
Earlier, Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, a former judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, said in solidarity with the rally at the foot of the TSC's Raju sculpture, "Pakistan still cannot accept us. In 1974, Bangabandhu said that they had to apologize to Bangladesh and pay their dues. But they did not meet any of them. Instead, in 1975, the murderer Zia-Mushtaq killed Bangabandhu. Pakistan had a big hand behind the assassination of Bangabandhu. Pakistan was also involved in the grenade attack on August 21. That grenade came from Pakistan. The Pakistani embassy is still conspiring against the liberation war. I urge the government to increase its surveillance of the Pakistani embassy."
Barrister Turin Afroz said, "Pakistan must immediately apologize for the genocide of 1971 and the murder of the nation's best child intellectuals. Otherwise, we will file a case against Pakistan in the International Court of Justice for genocide. As a sponsor of communal fundamentalist evil forces, Pakistan is constantly conspiring against Bangladesh. We will stop all their conspiracies.”
General Secretary of the Liberation War Mancha Md. Al-Mamun said that 49 years after independence, the government of Pakistan has not yet claimed responsibility for the 1971 genocide. So far the government of Pakistan is carrying out various conspiracies against Bangladesh. The genocide of 1971, the assassination of martyred intellectuals, the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, the assassination of four national leaders, the Ekushey August grenade attack, etc. are tied in the same thread.
"Pakistan must accept responsibility for these heinous killings and apologize to Bangladesh. If Pakistan does not apologize quickly, the Bangladesh government will have to sever all diplomatic ties with Pakistan. Otherwise, the Muktijuddha Mancha will announce a tougher program in the whole country."
