Dhaka declares Raza persona non grata

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, DEC. 15. 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 today.

The Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Khan, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to inform the Government's decision after Mr. Raza failed to leave the country during last two weeks following his withdrawal by Islamabad on November 30.

Mr. Raza, while participating at a seminar on the foreign policy of Bangladesh on November 27, had criticised 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 flags, across the country. The entire country, except for few smaller pro-Pakistani fundamentalist parties, demanded the immediate expulsion of Mr. Raza. Reiterating Bangladesh's strong indignation at Mr. Raza's remarks, the Acting Foreign Secretary, Dr. Tawfik Ali, told the Pakistan High Commissioner that his (Mr. Raza's) and other activities were ``incompatible with his status as a diplomat''. This is for the first time a foreign diplomat was declared PNG in Bangladesh.

The Pakistani High Commissioner was first summoned to the Ministry on November 28 in connection with Mr. Raza's ``uncalled for'' and ``audacious'' remarks. Mr. Raza was declared persona non grata as his activities are ``incompatible with his status as diplomat'', said a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the face of widespread protests, Islamabad on November 30 announced the withdrawal of Mr. Raza from Bangladesh.

The Government said it had been waiting for more than two weeks hoping that the Pakistani authorities will take him (Mr. Raza) out of Bangladesh very soon. But he did not leave. The Home Minister, Mr. Mohammad Nasim, has openly accused him of ``continuing his anti-Bangladesh conspiracy'' and asked the police to force the Pakistani diplomat to leave the country by today, before the country celebrates its 29th Victory Day commemorating the historic surrender of the Pakistani forces to the joint India-Bangladesh command on December 16, 1971.

The authorities in Dhaka explained that the diplomat's continued presence in Bangladesh would generate popular resentment against Pakistan and would deteriorate Bangladesh-Pakistan relations further.

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Section  : International
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