Diplomatic row with Pakistan, Turkey

Diplomatic tension has flared up between Bangladesh and two other Muslim countries following Wednesday’s execution of war crimes convict Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami. Turkey yesterday recalled its ambassador to Bangladesh Devrim Ozturk for consultations after strongly protesting the execution. However, some international news agencies, quoting the country’s president, reported that the Turkish envoy was withdrawn.
Meanwhile, Pakistan authorities summoned acting Bangladesh High Commissioner in Islamabad Md Najmul Huda yesterday. In response to Pakistan’s action, Dhaka also summoned Pak  High Commissioner Shuja Alam to the Foreign Ministry yesterday and handed a strongly worded protest. Turkish Ambassador Devrim Ozturk  left Dhaka yesterday at around 6pm, said diplomatic sources. The Turkish envoy informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about his home visit but did not cite any reason or mention any ‘withdrawal’, said the sources. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam also told a news agency that Turkey has not informed Bangladesh about withdrawing its ambassador in Dhaka over the execution of Jamaat chief Nizami.
“We have no information, officially or unofficially, on this matter. The ambassador has told us that he is going out of the country. He has also informed us who will act for him in his absence,” said the state minister.
Meanwhile, AFP quoting Turkish state-run Anatolia News Agency reported that a diplomatic source in Ankara said the Turkish Foreign Ministry has asked Turkey’s ambassador to Bangladesh to report to Ankara for consultations in the aftermath of hanging of the Jamaat-e-Islami chief in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, the Associate Press reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a speech in Ankara yesterday, said his country had recalled his ambassador from Bangladesh in protest. He also strongly condemned the execution of Islamist party leader Nizami. Erdogan also lashed out at Europe for not speaking out against the execution, said the AP report.
On Wednesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry, in a written statement, also strongly condemned the execution of Matiur Rahman Nizami, said an AFP report.
The statement said that Turkey, which has abolished capital punishment, feared that the use of such methods risked creating “rancour and hatred between our Bangladeshi brothers”. Since coming to power in 2002, Turkey’s ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) has sought to boost the country’s power in the Muslim world well outside its Ottoman sphere of influence, said AFP.
Meanwhile, Pakistan summoned Bangladesh envoy Md Najmul Huda and handed him a resolution passed unanimously by its parliament yesterday condemning the execution of Jamaat chief Nizami. Pakistan Foreign Ministry Director General (South Asia) Md Faisal called for reconciliation after handing over the resolution to the Bangladesh envoy yesterday afternoon, said diplomatic sources.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shuja Alam had been summoned earlier, two day’s ago by the foreign ministry and handed over a note verbale protesting the issuance of press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan voicing concern over a Supreme Court’s judgment on Matiur Rahman Nizami.
In the note verbale handed to Shuja Alam yesterday, it was stated that by repeatedly taking the side of those Bangladesh nationals who are convicted of crimes against humanity and genocide, Pakistan has once again acknowledged its direct involvement and complicity with the mass atrocities committed during Bangladesh’s efforts to ensure justice and break the culture of impunity for the crimes committed 45 years ago.
It was also stated that the government of Bangladesh strongly repudiated Pakistan’s version of Nizami’s ‘only sin’, as mentioned in the Pakistan Foreign Office’s press release, was to uphold the Constitution of Pakistan, whereas it was in abeyance at that time.
It was further stated that the International Crimes Tribunal trials took solely into consideration the crimes against humanity and genocide in Bangladesh committed by Nizami during 1971 and was not at all based on his political identity or affiliation.
It was made clear to the Pakistani envoy that to the people of Bangladesh he was a leader of Islami Chhatra Sangha and also the head of the infamous Al Badr militia force in 1971 which not only cooperated with the Pakistani occupation forces in committing various crimes against humanity.
The High Commissioner was reminded that Pakistan continues to present a misleading, limited and partial interpretation of the underlying premise of the Tripartite Agreement of April 1974 which is totally unacceptable to Bangladesh.
The scope of the 1974 agreement was limited to repatriation of 195 Pakistani war criminals and remaining Pakistani prisoners of war, and the return of the Bengalis stranded inside Pakistan.
The note strongly stated that in no way the 1974 Agreement had given clemency to the Bangladeshi war criminals, including the members of Razakar, Al Badr, Al Shams.
In the note, the government of Bangladesh deeply regretted that despite Bangladesh’s repeated overtures, the malicious campaign by Pakistan against the trails of the crimes against humanity and genocide in Bangladesh is continuing. This is an impediment to the bilateral relations.
The High Commissioner was told to take serious note of the points and bring those to the attention of the competent authorities in Pakistan. It is expected that the quarters/ authorities in Pakistan would act responsibly and would refrain from such uncalled for statements.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Wednesday issued a media release expressing its disappointment at the execution of Nizami for his crime against humanity during the country's Liberation War in 1971 saying, “His only sin was upholding the constitution and laws of Pakistan."
Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, was hanged at a Dhaka Central Jail on Wednesday for committing crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation in 1971 including carrying out massacre of intellectuals. Nizami, a 73-year-old former minister, was the fifth and the most senior figure hanged for war crimes since the beginning of the trial of war criminals at the International Crimes Tribunal in 2010.

Diplomatic row with Pakistan, Turkey

Diplomatic tension has flared up between Bangladesh and two other Muslim countries following Wednesdays execution of war crimes convict Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami. Turkey yesterday recalled its ambassador to Bangladesh Devrim Ozturk for consultations after strongly protesting the execution. However, some international news agencies, quoting the countrys president, reported that the Turkish envoy was withdrawn. Meanwhile, Pakistan authorities summoned acting Bangladesh High Commissioner in Islamabad Md Najmul Huda yesterday. In response to Pakistans action, Dhaka also summoned Pak High Commissioner Shuja Alam to the Foreign Ministry yesterday and handed a strongly worded protest. Turkish Ambassador Devrim Ozturk left Dhaka yesterday at around 6pm, said diplomatic sources. The Turkish envoy informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about his home visit but did not cite any reason or mention any withdrawal, said the sources. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam also told a news agency that Turkey has not informed Bangladesh about withdrawing its ambassador in Dhaka over the execution of Jamaat chief Nizami. We have no information, officially or unofficially, on this matter. The ambassador has told us that he is going out of the country. He has also informed us who will act for him in his absence, said the state minister. Meanwhile, AFP quoting Turkish state-run Anatolia News Agency reported that a diplomatic source in Ankara said the Turkish Foreign Ministry has asked Turkeys ambassador to Bangladesh to report to Ankara for consultations in the aftermath of hanging of the Jamaat-e-Islami chief in Dhaka. Meanwhile, the Associate Press reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a speech in Ankara yesterday, said his country had recalled his ambassador from Bangladesh in protest. He also strongly condemned the execution of Islamist party leader Nizami. Erdogan also lashed out at Europe for not speaking out against the execution, said the AP report. On Wednesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry, in a written statement, also strongly condemned the execution of Matiur Rahman Nizami, said an AFP report. The statement said that Turkey, which has abolished capital punishment, feared that the use of such methods risked creating rancour and hatred between our Bangladeshi brothers. Since coming to power in 2002, Turkeys ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) has sought to boost the countrys power in the Muslim world well outside its Ottoman sphere of influence, said AFP. Meanwhile, Pakistan summoned Bangladesh envoy Md Najmul Huda and handed him a resolution passed unanimously by its parliament yesterday condemning the execution of Jamaat chief Nizami. Pakistan Foreign Ministry Director General (South Asia) Md Faisal called for reconciliation after handing over the resolution to the Bangladesh envoy yesterday afternoon, said diplomatic sources. Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shuja Alam had been summoned earlier, two days ago by the foreign ministry and handed over a note verbale protesting the issuance of press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan voicing concern over a Supreme Courts judgment on Matiur Rahman Nizami. In the note verbale handed to Shuja Alam yesterday, it was stated that by repeatedly taking the side of those Bangladesh nationals who are convicted of crimes against humanity and genocide, Pakistan has once again acknowledged its direct involvement and complicity with the mass atrocities committed during Bangladeshs efforts to ensure justice and break the culture of impunity for the crimes committed 45 years ago. It was also stated that the government of Bangladesh strongly repudiated Pakistans version of Nizamis only sin, as mentioned in the Pakistan Foreign Offices press release, was to uphold the Constitution of Pakistan, whereas it was in abeyance at that time. It was further stated that the International Crimes Tribunal trials took solely into consideration the crimes against humanity and genocide in Bangladesh committed by Nizami during 1971 and was not at all based on his political identity or affiliation. It was made clear to the Pakistani envoy that to the people of Bangladesh he was a leader of Islami Chhatra Sangha and also the head of the infamous Al Badr militia force in 1971 which not only cooperated with the Pakistani occupation forces in committing various crimes against humanity. The High Commissioner was reminded that Pakistan continues to present a misleading, limited and partial interpretation of the underlying premise of the Tripartite Agreement of April 1974 which is totally unacceptable to Bangladesh. The scope of the 1974 agreement was limited to repatriation of 195 Pakistani war criminals and remaining Pakistani prisoners of war, and the return of the Bengalis stranded inside Pakistan. The note strongly stated that in no way the 1974 Agreement had given clemency to the Bangladeshi war criminals, including the members of Razakar, Al Badr, Al Shams. In the note, the government of Bangladesh deeply regretted that despite Bangladeshs repeated overtures, the malicious campaign by Pakistan against the trails of the crimes against humanity and genocide in Bangladesh is continuing. This is an impediment to the bilateral relations. The High Commissioner was told to take serious note of the points and bring those to the attention of the competent authorities in Pakistan. It is expected that the quarters/ authorities in Pakistan would act responsibly and would refrain from such uncalled for statements. Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Wednesday issued a media release expressing its disappointment at the execution of Nizami for his crime against humanity during the countrys Liberation War in 1971 saying, His only sin was upholding the constitution and laws of Pakistan. Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, was hanged at a Dhaka Central Jail on Wednesday for committing crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation in 1971 including carrying out massacre of intellectuals. Nizami, a 73-year-old former minister, was the fifth and the most senior figure hanged for war crimes since the beginning of the trial of war criminals at the International Crimes Tribunal in 2010.