Bangladesh Muktijoddha Mancha demands trial of Pakistani army involved in 1971 war crimes

DHAKA: Bangladesh Muktijuddha Mancha handed a memorandum to the United Nations Missions in Dhaka for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, demanding the trial of the Pakistani army involved in killings and Genocide during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

The memorandum also demanded Pakistan desist, overtly or covertly, from engaging with those forces that stood against our freedom struggle. It also expects, Pakistan in general and the Pakistani Army in particular, to offer an unconditional apology to our Honorable Prime Minister and beloved leader Sheikh Hasina and to the people of Bangladesh for the brutalities in the Bangabandhu killing, the 21st grenade attack and the atrocities of the 1971 liberation struggle. In the memorandum, Bangladesh Muktijuddha Mancha reminded about the 1971 Liberation struggle of Bangladesh, saying that 30 lakh people were killed and 2 lakhs were raped by the Pakistani army during the war. The party also said Pakistan’s ISI was directly involved in ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s killing.

“To take revenge for surrender in the Liberation War, Pakistan started conspiring against Bangabandhu’s government. With the help of Zia-Mostaque, Pakistan killed Bangabandhu and his family members which was the most brutal political killing in the world,” the memorandum reads.

Pakistan also patronised and supplied argues grenades to BNP-Jamaat-Huji to kill Bangabandhu’s daughter Shiekh Hasina on August 21 2004. Some Awami League leaders created human protection to save the life of Sheikh Hasina. Finally, Sheikh Hasina was saved but 24 Awami League leaders were killed due to grenades attack,” it added.

Bangladesh Muktijuddha Mancha also said that Pakistan cannot avoid responsibility for these killings. Party threatened Pakistan and said that if the country continued sponsoring terrorism in Bangladesh, they would make that their government would be bound to cut all diplomatic relations with Pakistan.

“We demand United Nations to bring the Pakistan militaries under the trial of the International War Crimes Court for their involvement in genocide and intellectuals killings in 1971,” the party said.

Pakistan’s “genocide” against Bengalis and Hindus in the 1971 war was finally recognized after the US House condemned Islamabad’s actions, calling on President Joe Biden to recognise the atrocities. However, the UN still hasn’t recognised the alleged pogrom in the erstwhile East Pakistan. The legislation brought by Congressmen Ro Khanna, and Steve Chabot, recognised Pakistan’s atrocities against ethnic groups constitute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.

“...condemns the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Pakistan against the people of Bangladesh from March 1971 to December 1971; recognizes that such atrocities against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus constitute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide; calls on the President of the United States to recognize the atrocities committed against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus by the Armed Forces of Pakitan during 1971 as crimes against humanity war crimes, and genocide,” the legislation read. (ANI)