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Bangladesh expels Pak envoy |
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Bangladesh has finally declared the Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Irfan ur Rehman Raza, persona non grata for his undiplomatic conduct and asked him to leave the country by Dec. 16. Dhaka took the decision after Mr. Raza failed to leave the country during the last two weeks following his withdrawal by Islamabad on Nov. 30.
Mr. Raza, while participating at a seminar on the foreign policy of Bangladesh on Nov. 27, had criticized the ruling Awami League and termed the Bengali Freedom fighters, led by the Awami League as miscreants during the country's independence war against Pakistan. Mr. Raza also questioned the logic in Bangladesh asking for an apology from Pakistan for its barbarity during the war in which nearly three million people were killed. The diplomat's remarks sparked widespread condemnation and violent street agitation, including burning of Pakistani nags, across the country. The entire country, except for a few smaller pro-Pakistan fundamentalist parties, demanded the immediate expulsion of Mr. Raza. The Pakistani High Commissioner was called to the Foreign Ministry on Nov. 28 to protest against what was called Mr. Raza's uncalled for and audacious remarks. The Bangladesh Government said, Raza's continued presence in Bangladesh was generating popular resentment against Pakistan and it took the decision to declare him persona non grata after waiting for more than two weeks hoping that Pakistani authorities will take him out of the country.
Protest against acquittals.
Meanwhile, the verdict in the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case, in which one of the two judges acquitted five of the 15 accused persons, triggered instant protests all over the country, with scores of people, mostly belonging to the ruling Awami League taking to the streets. They demanded execution of all the 15 accused - all former army officers - and sentenced to death by a lower court. Another Bench will now hear the case because of the split verdict in line with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, court sources said
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