B'desh seeks Pak cooperation for 1971 war tribunal

Dhaka, May 29:Pakistan has expressed its readiness to open a dialogue with Bangladesh on Dhaka's proposal to constitute a tribunal for trying Bengali-speaking collaborators who colluded in 1971 war excesses.

Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dipu Moni today said Dhaka had been in touch with Islamabad seeking its cooperation for the trial to bring to justice people of this country who colluded in excesses.

Speaking at a press conference after her month-long tour across continents to seek support for the tribunal, Moni said the war criminals trial issue came up in her discussions with her counterpart in Pakistan.

The new Bangladesh government led by Sheikh Hasina has sought legal and expertise assistance from the United Nations and The Hague based International Court of Justice (ICJ) for setting up of a 1971 war tribunal.

Moni said Islamabad appear to have some reservations and concerns on the move. "I told the Pakistani Foreign Minister that it will not be a Victor's justice, as we hold the trial of the war criminals of our country." She met Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the sidelines of just held OIC foreign ministers conference in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Islamabad fears the trial process could revive many bitter issues exposing it to fresh embarrassments. PTI