Bangladesh and Pakistan have resumed foreign secretary-level talks. But for Dhaka, the path to normalised relations is clear: justice first.
Bangladesh has formally demanded a $4.52 billion payment from Pakistan, representing its share of pre-1971 assets, along with a state-level apology for the 1971 genocide, and the repatriation of over 300,000 stranded Bihari Muslims—long-standing issues left unresolved since the bloody birth of Bangladesh.
A Long List of Historical Grievances
The demands are not new—but they are being reasserted at a pivotal moment. Following the ouster of the Awami League government in 2024, Bangladesh’s interim leadership is now revisiting relations with Pakistan from a strategic yet uncompromising standpoint. The foreign secretary-level meeting held in Dhaka—the first in 15 years—placed the 1971 war’s legacy front and center.
According to Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin, the $4.52 billion includes not just foreign reserves and savings owed to Bangladesh, but $200 million in international aid meant for victims of the 1970 Bhola cyclone, which was never transferred.
The second demand is more symbolic but no less important: a full and formal apology from the Pakistani state for its military’s actions during the 1971 Liberation War, when hundreds of thousands of Bengalis were killed, and mass rapes and atrocities were committed.
The Forgotten People in Limbo
Bangladesh also raised the issue of 324,147 “stranded Pakistanis”—mostly Bihari Muslims who were pro-Pakistan during the war and now live in limbo in 79 refugee camps across Bangladesh. While some have been granted Bangladeshi citizenship, Dhaka insists that those who want to return should be accepted by Pakistan. So far, only 26,941 have been repatriated.
Pakistan’s Calculated Silence
Pakistan’s delegation, led by Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, made no commitment. Instead, officials expressed a willingness to “continue dialogue” on these sensitive issues. The vague promises do not inspire confidence—especially since Islamabad has historically avoided any official acknowledgment of wrongdoing in 1971, let alone compensation or repatriation.
This pattern of avoidance has strained bilateral relations for decades. The silence of successive Pakistani governments has also shielded military institutions from accountability, while deepening the pain of victims in Bangladesh.
Trade, Transport—and Trauma
The bilateral meeting also covered trade, education, climate cooperation, and defence ties. Direct shipping has resumed, and easier visas are in place. But can economic cooperation truly thrive while the trauma of 1971 remains ignored?
Bangladesh’s exports to Pakistan in 2023–24 stood at $61.98 million—paltry compared to $627.8 million in imports from Pakistan. Dhaka has now urged Islamabad to reduce the trade gap and encourage Pakistani investment in Bangladesh.
Yet, many in Bangladesh argue that economic collaboration without justice only reinforces historical injustice.
A Reckoning Long Overdue
For decades, Pakistan has called for “moving on.” But what Bangladesh is demanding is not vengeance—it is acknowledgment, reparations, and closure. Without addressing the crimes of the past, any attempt at a fresh start remains hollow.
The upcoming visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka may offer an opportunity. But unless Pakistan takes real steps toward fulfilling these demands, including a public apology and compensation, the wounds of 1971 will remain open.
Final Word
Bangladesh’s demands are not a diplomatic stunt—they are a principled stand for historical accountability. If Pakistan truly seeks reconciliation and regional stability, it must start by reckoning with its past.
No economic corridor or diplomatic visit can substitute for justice.
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