Hasina protests Pak reaction over war crimes trial, execution

DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today dismissed as "unacceptable" Pakistan's criticism of Bangladesh's 1971 war crimes trial and execution of two top opposition leaders even as the government summoned Islamabad's envoy here to lodge a strong protest.

"It (Pakistan reaction) is not acceptable," Hasina said, a day after Islamabad issued a statement expressing its deep anguish over the executions of two top opposition leaders for crimes against humanity.

The Daily Star quoted the prime minister as directing the foreign ministry to lodge a "strong protest" as "Pakistan has interfered in our domestic affairs in the past too".

The foreign office, meanwhile, said it summoned Pakistani envoy here to register its protest over Pakistan's unacceptable remarks over the executions.

"We have summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Shuja Alam today and protested in strongest words," acting Foreign Secretary Mizanur Rahman said.

"You have seen the Pakistani statement which is entirely unacceptable," Rahman said after the meeting.

Pakistan foreign ministry yesterday issued the statement, voicing "deep concern and anguish" over the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary-General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, 67, and key-opposition BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, 66.

Several senior ministers of Hasina's government, politicians and 1971 veterans also expressed their anguish over Pakistan's comments.

"Pakistan showed audacity just as convicts like Salauddin Quader Chowdhury did until their deaths," said Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon said in a statement.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam told newsmen that Pakistan "has no right to make any comments about internal issues of Bangladesh".

This was the third occasion when Bangladesh summoned Pakistani envoy after it initiated a belted process in 2010 to expose to justice the 1971 war criminals.

Bangladesh, which won its independence from Pakistan after a nine-month long Liberation War 44 years ago, has in the past several decades repeatedly demanded an apology from Islamabad for the atrocities carried out by its troops in 1971.

Officially three million people were killed during the nine-month long war against Pakistan.