State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam on Saturday urged those countries which sided with Pakistan during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971 to play key role in getting international recognition of Bangladesh genocide.
“Many countries supported Pakistan during the 1971 War of Liberation. Those countries today remind many countries very strongly of establishing the rule of law and democracy. Those countries talk about many of our internal affairs no matter whether we want it or not,” he said while speaking at a discussion.
Without mentioning any specific country, Alam said they acknowledged genocide in Myanmar and Bangladesh will keep eyes on how they see and describe 1971 genocide.
The United States, which was sided with Pakistan in 1971, formally determined that the Myanmar military committed the crime of genocide and crimes against humanity against ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.
Read more: Recognise March 25 as International Genocide Day: PM urges UN
The State Minister said many of the conflicting States of today's world were, in a sense, in favour of genocide and continued to supply military weapons to Pakistan. “They could not deter Pakistan, Yahya Khan, Tikka Khan – from their brutality.”
“As a friendly country, we will appeal to those countries to play a leading role in getting international recognition of Bangladesh genocide,” Alam said.
To commemorate the Bangladesh Genocide Day, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Liberation War Museum organized the special event at the Liberation War Museum.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque who spoke as the chief guest, said although many countries were not in favor of Bangladesh during the Liberation War, the people of the world were in favor of Bangladesh. “That is why we had achieved independence in just 9 months.”
Internationally reputed rights activist and genocide scholar and President of Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) Barrister Patrick Burgess delivered the keynote speech on "Bangladesh Genocide and Global Community: Then and Now."
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, among others, spoke.