Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday said that the current government did not give any impression at all to Pakistan that Bangladesh was willing to build good relations leaving aside the 1971 issue.
‘We have not seen any words, coming from Pakistan. I personally think the relations will be easier if they [Pakistan government] show the courage to refer to what happened in 1971 and say that they are sincerely seeking apology,’ he told reporters while responding to a question at a media briefing.
‘Bangladesh wants Pakistan to seek apology publicly with a formal announcement for the atrocities, it perpetrated against unarmed Bangalees in 1971,’ he said.
Bangladesh chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus called for the revival of SAARC as a top platform for regional cooperation in South Asia when he met Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters.
‘It was entirely a courtesy meeting. We don’t raise difficult issues in such courtesy meetings. When we will sit down for discussion, we will raise such difficult issues,’ said the foreign adviser.
He said that they would try to maintain good relations with Pakistan but 1971 issues would be there. ‘1971 is always in our hearts.’
During his meeting with chief adviser Yunus, Pakistan’s PM Sharif said that Bangladesh and Pakistan should open a ‘new page’ in their relations to enhance cooperation in various aspects.
‘It’s essential we revive our relations,’ Sharif told to Yunus.