Bangladesh demands apology from Pakistan for 1971 atrocities, $4.3 bn reparation in first diplomatic talks in 15 years

Bangladesh raised long-standing issues and demanded a public apology from Pakistan for the 1971 atrocities during their first foreign secretary-level talks in 15 years, which were held in Dhaka on Thursday, ANI reported.

Bangladesh also asked Pakistan to pay USD 4.3 billion reparation as its share of joint assets from when East Pakistan broke away in 1971 to become an independent nation.

“We raised the historically unresolved issues with Pakistan,” said Bangladesh Foreign Secretary M Jashim Uddin after the meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch at the Padma state guest house.

During Operation Searchlight in 1971, Pakistani forces killed an estimated 3 million Bengalis and raped over a million women. Bangladesh won its independence after a brutal war with Pakistan.

Dhaka also raised issues, including the repatriation of over 300,000 stranded Pakistanis living in relief camps and the transfer of foreign aid sent for the 1970 Bhola cyclone victims, as per a report from news agency ANI.

Bangladesh claims $4.32 billion from Pakistan

Bangladesh also claimed $4.32 billion from Pakistan, which includes its share of assets from undivided Pakistan before 1971, such as aid money, provident funds, and savings instruments.

The report mentioned that Pakistan had not allocated Bangladesh its share of $200 million in foreign aid after the 1970 Bhola cyclone.

The 1970 Cyclone Bhola, according to the World Meteorological Organization, was the deadliest tropical cyclone in history, killing up to 500,000 people in East Pakistan which is now today’s Bangladesh.

Pak deputy PM to visit Bangladesh

Jashim Uddin said that Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, will visit Bangladesh on April 27-28. He also expressed hope that direct flights between the two countries will begin soon.