Dhaka on Tuesday registered its protest to Islamabad by summoning its High Commissioner Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui for uploading a controversial video link in the facebook page, in which it was claimed that Major Ziaur Rahman had proclaimed independence of Bangladesh in 1971.
The video, however, was removed few hours after uploading it on the High Commission’s facebook page ‘Pakistan Affairs’. Pakistan in the 13:45-minute video claimed that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted ‘autonomy’; he did not want to wage war against Pakistan.
Envoy Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 3:00pm yesterday and met Acting Foreign Secretary [Bilateral and Consular] Quamrul Ahsan apparently to clarify his country’s stance over the issue.
The meeting between Quamrul Ahsan and Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui continued for about 55 minutes. At that time, Quamrul Ahsan handed over a formal protest note regarding the issue on behalf of Bangladesh. Pakistan envoy did not respond to the queries of the journalists about the outcome of the meeting. Officials of the Foreign Ministry told The New Nation last night Dhaka categorically cautioned Islamabad that this sort of distortion in history would create negative impact in the bilateral relationship of two countries.
“Dhaka has cautioned Pakistan summoning its envoy. We told the Pakistani envoy that this type of distorted link sharing will harm the relationship between the two countries…..History is not changeable. Everyone must accept the matter-of-fact. It’s not possible twisting the history by waging propaganda,” Quamrul Ahsan said.
The Acting FS further said, “We’ve cleared it to Pak envoy that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh and the nine-month Liberation War was conducted in his name [Bangabandhu].”
“Pakistan has expressed regret for such an incident and said that it was not done intentionally. Pakistan High Commissioner also informed us that they have deleted the video link from the facebook page,” he told the journalists.
Replying to a query, Quamrul Ahsan said, “We did not accept their statement — where the envoy said it was not done intentionally….They [Pakistan] have done such types of deeds earlier several times. So, we handed over a protest note regarding the issue. Dhaka also believes that it was done intentionally.” “The Pak envoy said that they would express regret in the website also. We’re observing the situation now,” he said.
A senior official of Foreign Ministry said Pakistan cannot deny its responsibility for uploading the video link regarding the Bangladesh’s history. Pakistan earlier had carried out negative propaganda against several nations in its same facebook page.
