“I think we should be clear about it without getting into legal formalities…in other words, even [if] something happened long ago,” he said.
The High Commissioner said there is no statute of limitation on any kind of arrangement that may have been arrived in and this is something entirely within [the jurisdiction of] the government of Bangladesh to assess the history and see how this goes forward.
Doraiswami came up with the remarks when asked which provision of the 1974 tripartite agreement is holding back to try the Pakistani generals who committed genocide during the War of Liberation in 1971.
“History is history,” said the High Commissioner noting that the question is historically very relevant in this historic year when Bangladesh is set to celebrate the 50 years of its Independence.
The Indian diplomat was speaking at ‘DCAB Talk’ organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the Jatiya Press Club. DCAB President Pantho Rahman and General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the event.
Bangladesh has recently reiterated the importance of resolving outstanding bilateral issues with Pakistan, including an official apology from Pakistan for the genocide it committed during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
Bangladesh also sought completion of the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh, and settling the issue of the division of assets.
Bangladesh also made it clear that it cannot forget the atrocities committed by Pakistan in 1971 and the pain will remain there forever.
