Bangladesh Raises 1971 Atrocities Issue Again During Pakistan FM’s Visit, Demands Apology | Exclusive

Last Updated:August 25, 2025, 10:27 IST

Sources said Muhammad Yunus’ demand for an apology is seen as a response to the domestic political pressure within Bangladesh

According to sources, Muhammad Yunus' demand for an apology is more about local political dynamics than any genuine diplomatic breakthrough. (AFP)

Bangladesh has reignited its long-standing demand for an official apology from Pakistan for the atrocities committed during the 1971 war of independence. The demand was made during the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, marking the most senior visit from Pakistan to Dhaka since 2012.

The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement during the visit, stating that unresolved historical issues, including a formal apology for the genocide during the 1971 war, division of assets, and transfer of foreign aid meant for cyclone victims, should be resolved to pave the way for stable and forward-looking bilateral relations between the two nations.

However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office statement did not address the issue of a 1971 apology or compensation, leaving Bangladesh shocked.

Sources in Dhaka told CNN-News18 that while the initial meetings between Dar and Bangladesh officials had been amicable, tensions emerged when the Pakistani Foreign Minister visited former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s residence.

The visit set off a chain reaction, with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus publicly demanding an apology from Pakistan. Yunus’ demand is seen as a response to the domestic political pressure within Bangladesh, with opposition figures accusing him of using the issue to strengthen his own political standing.

Dar’s meetings with Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh ist Party (BNP) and leaders from the Jamaat-e-Islami, a political party historically opposed to Bangladesh’s 1971 independence from Pakistan, further added to the controversy. The Jamaat-e-Islami and Citizen Party (NCP) have also pressed Pakistan to address the unresolved 1971 issues to facilitate the improvement of bilateral ties.

According to sources, Yunus’ demand for an apology is more about local political dynamics than any genuine diplomatic breakthrough. The unresolved 1971 issues have long been a thorn in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations, and this latest demand follows a similar request made earlier this year during the first foreign secretary-level talks in 15 years.

Despite ongoing efforts for reconciliation, relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have remained frosty, especially since the trial of Pakistani military collaborators began in 2010 under the regime of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. This trial further soured relations as it reopened the wounds of 1971, when the Pakistani military’s actions led to widespread atrocities in what was then East Pakistan.

As tensions simmer, Bangladesh’s demand for an apology may continue to echo as both countries navigate their complex and fraught history. The question now remains whether Pakistan will address these long-standing grievances, or if the demands are largely a political tool for Bangladeshi leaders in the current domestic climate.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

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