Today it has been 39 years since East Pakistan became Bangladesh. It has been longer that Bangladeshis have been politcially separate from Pakistan (39y) than they were together (24y). A new generation has grown up without seeing the time when the two countries were together. A lot of water has flown under the bridge since then and this is a good time for both countries to forgive and forget about the past. I would go as far as to say it should be okay to seek forgiveness from each other and say sorry for the war of 39 years ago. Nobody becomes smaller in stature by saying sorry except for inflated egos. It can only heal and make friends. And Pakistan needs friends.
We want to wish Bangladesh prosperity and good luck in their future.
Also see earlier posts at ATP:
2007: A Pakistani in Bangladesh
2007: Bangladesh Turns 36: Bringing Stranded Pakistanis Home
2008: History’s Ghetto: Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh
2008: Sahabzada Yaqub Khan
2009: 1971: A Blot of Shame
2009: 1971: The Lessons We Did Not Learn
2009: 1971: The Forgotten Silence
2009: 1971: Hum kay thehray ajnabi…
2010: Remembering Lt. Gen. Azam Khan
sad to break it to you owais sahib, magar dhabbey to kabhi bhi nahin dhulen ge. reason being that the establishment and the elite of pakistan have niether repented (and apologized) for the atrocities of 1971, nor – and this is far more damning – have they learnt any lessons from that shameful episode in pakistan’s history. as a result, a whole lot of new dhabbas have been callously added on to the pile of 1971, in other parts of what little remains of pakistan.
ab aap kaun kaun se dhabbe dhona (ya dhulvana) chahetay haen?
My best wishes also to the people of Bangladesh.
My best wishes for the people of Bangladesh. May your futures be bright.
Thank you for the good wishes to Bangladesh. Much time has passed and both our countries should now look to our futures.
Separation of East Pakistan was the greatest disaster.