Bdesh seeks Pak apology for war

DHAKA (Agencies) - A senior Bangladeshi official on Sunday urged Pakistan to formally apologise for alleged atrocities and acts of genocide committed by the Pakistani military during the war of 1971.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dipu Moni made the demand in a meeting with Pakistans new envoy to Bangladesh, a statement released by the ministry said. Aided by India, Bangladesh, then the eastern wing of Pakistan, won its separation in 1971 after a nine-month war.
Bangladesh says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed an estimated 3 million people, raped about 200,000 women and forced millions to flee their homes. Pakistan has repeatedly rejected the allegations in strongest possible terms, calling it a baseless propaganda to malign the country and its forces.
According to the statement, Moni sought Pakistans understanding and recognition of Bangladeshs position on resolving the outstanding issues including an expression of formal apology from Pakistan for the genocide and atrocities committed by the Pakistani military in 1971. It said Moni also wanted to settle the issues of division of assets and war reparations. Moni said that resolving these long-standing issues was important to maintaining good relations with Pakistan. Early resolution of the outstanding issues would enable the existing friendly relations to make a great leap forward, he said.
and create a wider space for cooperation, the statement quoted Moni as saying.
The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has initiated a move to try Bangladeshi collaborators who allegedly helped the Pakistani military. A special tribunal has been formed to conduct the trials. Five top leaders of Bangladeshs largest Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, are currently behind bars, pending trial for their alleged role as collaborators.
Two other men from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which is led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, are in jail on similar charges. All of them have denied the allegations. Jamaat-e-Islami openly campaigned against breaking away from Pakistan during the 1971 war. The international community has called on the government to ensure that the tribunal is free and impartial. New York-based Human Rights Watch has praised the government for establishing the tribunal, but called for changes, including allowing the accused to question its impartiality, which current law prohibits.