Bangladesh Raises 1971 Atrocities Issue Again During Pakistan FM’s Visit, Demands Apology|Unique

Last Updated:August 25, 2025, 10:27 IST

Sources stated Muhammad Yunus’ need for an apology is viewed as a reaction to the domestic political pressure within Bangladesh

Bangladesh has actually reignited its enduring need for a main apology from Pakistan for the atrocities dedicated throughout the 1971 war of self-reliance. The need was made throughout the check out of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, marking the most senior see from Pakistan to Dhaka because 2012.

The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided a declaration throughout the go to, mentioning that unsolved historic concerns, consisting of an official apology for the genocide throughout the 1971 war, department of possessions, and transfer of foreign help indicated for cyclone victims, need to be dealt with to lead the way for steady and positive bilateral relations in between the 2 countries.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office declaration did not attend to the problem of a 1971 apology or payment, leaving Bangladesh stunned.

Sources in Dhaka informed CNN-News18 that while the preliminary conferences in between Dar and Bangladesh authorities had actually been friendly, stress emerged when the Pakistani Foreign Minister checked out previous prime minister Khaleda Zia’s home.

The check out triggered a domino effect, with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus openly requiring an apology from Pakistan. Yunus’ need is viewed as an action to the domestic political pressure within Bangladesh, with opposition figures implicating him of utilizing the concern to enhance his own political standing.

Dar’s conferences with Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and leaders from the Jamaat-e-Islami, a political celebration traditionally opposed to Bangladesh’s 1971 self-reliance from Pakistan, even more contributed to the debate. The Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP) have actually likewise pushed Pakistan to resolve the unsettled 1971 concerns to assist in the enhancement of bilateral ties.

According to sources, Yunus’ need for an apology is more about regional political characteristics than any real diplomatic advancement. The unsolved 1971 concerns have actually long been a thorn in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations, and this most current need follows a comparable demand made previously this year throughout the very first foreign secretary-level talks in 15 years.

Regardless of continuous efforts for reconciliation, relations in between Bangladesh and Pakistan have actually stayed wintry, specifically given that the trial of Pakistani military partners started in 2010 under the program of previous prime minister Sheikh Hasina. This trial even more soured relations as it resumed the injuries of 1971, when the Pakistani armed force’s actions caused prevalent atrocities in what was then East Pakistan.

As stress simmer, Bangladesh’s need for an apology might continue to echo as both nations browse their complex and filled history. The concern now stays whether Pakistan will resolve these enduring complaints, or if the needs are mostly a political tool for Bangladeshi leaders in the present domestic environment.