Bangladesh can’t forget, forgive 1971 atrocities of Pakistan: PM

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that Bangladesh could not forget and forgive atrocities committed by Pakistan in 1971, according to a press release of the press wing of prime minister’s office.
‘Incidents of 1971 cannot be forgotten or forgiven,’ she said while Pakistan high commissioner in Dhaka Imran Ahmed Siddiqui called on the prime minister at her official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka. Referring to the volumes of the book titled ‘Secret Documents of Intelligence Branch on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’, the PM said that all could learn many historical facts from 1948 to 1971 from the books.
Noting that (the Urdu version) of the book ‘Unfinished Memoirs’ written by the country’s Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is one of the best seller books in Pakistan, she said it’s also well read in Pakistan apart from other countries.
The PM extended greetings to her Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan when the high commissioner conveyed good wishes of the Pakistan PM to Sheikh Hasina. The high commissioner said that Pakistan PM advised them to learn about the development miracle of Bangladesh. Mentioning that different bilateral and regional forums have remained inactive, he sought help from the PM to activate foreign office consultations between the two countries. The prime minister said that there was no bar here to continue functioning regularly.
Imran Ahmed said that Pakistan wanted to boost relations with Bangladesh without any obstruction.
The PM also said she believes in regional cooperation referring to the Bangladesh foreign policy ‘friendship to all malice to none.’
The high commissioner lauded Sheikh Hasina for her statesmanship in the global arena. The prime minister welcomed the high commissioner and assured him of all cooperation.
PM’s principal secretary Ahmad Kaikaus and military secretary Major General Naqib Ahmed Chowdhury were present.
Meanwhile, prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the Swedish investors to invest in Bangladesh’s special economic zones, saying that many opportunities have been created there for doing business.
‘We’re setting up 100 special economic zones. We have created conducive business environment and opportunities there. So, Sweden can invest in the country,’ she said when Swedish ambassador Alexandra Berg Von Linde paid a courtesy call on the prime minister at her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital.
The prime minister described relations between Bangladesh and Sweden as historic, saying that Sweden has been giving assistance to Bangladesh since 1971, according to an official release of the press wing of the prime minister’s office.
She briefly highlighted her government’s various initiatives taken in the last 12 years, especially the social safety net programmes which have been playing a significant role in reducing the country’s poverty and ensuring women empowerment.
Turning to mechanisms to tackle climate change, she said that her government had been effectively dealing with the climate change impacts.
The PM said that the pace of Bangladesh economic growth slowed down due to COVID-19 crisis, adding that her government had been trying to overcome the situation.
Meanwhile, prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the Spanish investors to come up with larger investments in the special economic zones and high-tech parks alongside readymade garments, jute, leather and pharmaceutical sectors.
The PM made the call when Spanish ambassador Francisco de Asis Benitez Salas paid a courtesy call on the prime minister at her official Ganabhaban residence, said an official release of the prime minister’s office.
‘We’re setting up 100 special economic zones. We have created a conducive business environment and opportunities there. So, Spain can invest here,’ she said.
Apart from the readymade garments, jute, leather and pharmaceutical sectors have appeared as strong sectors in recent times in Bangladesh and Spain can think of investing in these sectors, she said.
The PM said that by investing in the SEZs and High-Tech Parks, Spanish investors could avail the tax benefits and attractive foreign direct investment-friendly packages offered by Bangladesh.
They can also take advantage of the large domestic and regional markets, she said.
Briefly spelling out of the Bangladesh’s Delta Plan 2100, the PM said, ‘Spain could consider investing in waterways.’
BSS