Kazi Zahidul Hasan :Bangladesh on Monday lodged a strong protest against Pakistan’s officials’ reaction to the execution of war criminals Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed.Acting Foreign Secretary Mizanur Rahman conveyed Bangladesh’s strong protest and anger to Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka Shuja Alam after summoning him in the State Guest House Padma in the afternoon.He also handed a formal protest note (aide memoire) to the Pakistan envoy.Earlier on Sunday, the government summoned Pakistan envoy to protest Islamabad’s “unacceptable” remarks about the executions of the two top war criminals.The High Commissioner met Bangladesh’s acting Foreign Secretary at about 2.30pm and came out of Padma within 10 minutes of conversation skipping from the journalists waiting outside the Guest House. “We have summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Shuja Alam on Monday and protested in strongest words,” Acting Foreign Secretary Mizanur Rahman told The New Nation after the meeting.Terming the Islamabad’s statement entirely unacceptable, he said, “Dhaka was deeply disappointed with the reaction as it amounted to directly interfering with the internal affairs of Bangladesh. Pakistan High Commissioner has been asked to convey the message to his government”.Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday, voicing deep concern and anguish over the hanging of war criminals Salauddin and Mojaheed.It also said that Pakistan was deeply disturbed at this development.”We lodged a strong protest against the Pakistan’s reaction to the execution of war criminals through the country’s envoy, warning that such reaction could undermine efforts to improve the bilateral ties,” a senior Foreign Ministry official told The New Nation on Monday asking not to be named.In addition to, he said, Pakistan had been advised to mind their own business and to set their own house in order, rather than interfering into internal affairs of other country.”If Pakistan undermines the advice, it will definitely undercut mutual confidence and affect the environment of bilateral relations that both countries have been working hard to improve,” he said.The Foreign Ministry official further said that the Government of Pakistan had been requested to take serious note of all these issues.Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reacted sharply to the Pakistan’s statement on the executions of war criminals asking the foreign office to lodge a strong protest in this regard.Hasina came up with the reaction at the regular weekly Cabinet meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital.”Pakistan interfered in our domestic affairs in the past too. It is not acceptable,” she said at the beginning of the meeting.Not only the Prime Minister, several ministers of her government earlier expressed their anguish at the Pakistan’s comments.”Pakistan showed audacity while reacting to the executed war criminals like Salauddin and Mojaheed, said Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon in a statement.Commenting on the issue, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on Sunday said that Pakistan had no right to make any comments about internal issues of Bangladesh.”Bangladesh expects Pakistan would refrain from such activities which hurt the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh,” he added.
