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Stranded Pakistanis

13 July 2004, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By SM Sadruddin, Munshipara Camp, Saidpur (Nilphamari)
13 July 2004, 18:00 PM
. PHOTO: AFP
It is an open secret that about a quarter million Stranded Pakistanis (most commonly known as Biharis or non-Bengalees) have been languishing and leading a miserable life amidst frustration and deprivation in 66 squalid camps of Bangladesh for the last several decades. No doubt, they have been struggling most peacefully and non-violently under the leadership of Alhaj M Nasim Khan to reach their home land--Pakistan. To our utter dismay, despite all assurances, commitment and agreements, Pakistan has miserably failed to repatriate its own nationals stranded in Bangladesh for the last 33 years. Successive governments came to power in Pakistan but their fate remains to be determined.

General Pervez Musharraf, during his state visit to Bangladesh in July 2002, had assured that his government would look into the matter once the Afghan issue is resolved and Afghanis are back to Afghanistan. With the change in political scenario, Afghans are going back to their homeland making room for Pakistan to ponder over the issue.

Stranded Pakistanis have been demanding a tripartite meeting of Pakistan, Bangladesh and SPGRC (the lone representative organisation of Stranded Pakistanis) to resolve the long lingering issue across the table through mutual dialogue and understanding.

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Unfortunately, till date neither Pakistan nor Bangladesh has responded to the call despite the fact that both the countries are signatories to the Delhi Agreement.

Through this column, we appeal to the Honourable President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to rise to the occasion and take immediate steps for holding a tripartite meeting as proposed by the leader of the stranded Pakistanis to resolve the issue, once and for all.