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Pakistani diplomat expelled from Bangladesh

By INAM AHMED

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Dec. 15 -- A top Pakistan diplomat was expelled from Bangladesh Friday for making derogatory remarks about the country's war of independence fought against Pakistan 30 years ago.

Irfan Raja, Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, was placed on a flight at 10:30 p.m. and sent to Pakistan, marking the first time that Bangladesh expelled any diplomat.

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A Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman has said Pakistan was surprised at Bangladesh's action, which "was not in keeping with the friendly relationship between the two countries."

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad on Friday said that Raja was unwanted in Bangladesh.

"He has caused harm to (the) bilateral relationship between the two countries," Azad said. "We cannot allow him to stay here any more. Unfortunately, the Pakistan government, which earlier announced his withdrawal following his derogatory remarks, was dilly dallying on the action."

Raja made Bangladesh angry when he said in a seminar that the Pakistan Army was not responsible for genocide in Bangladesh during 1971 war of independence. He also said Pakistan had no reason to apologize for the killings.

Bangladesh has claimed that 3 million people were killed by the Pakistan Army during the 1971 war, and in September this year the Bangladesh prime minister officially demanded an apology from Pakistan for the killings.

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Bangladesh protested Raja's remarks to Pakistan, following which Islamabad announced on Nov. 30 that it would withdraw Raja. But after Pakistan took no initiative to take the diplomat back, the Bangladesh foreign office Friday called Pakistan High Commissioner Iqbal Ahmed Khan and said Raja must leave the country by midnight Friday.

Bangladesh celebrates its independence on Saturday.NEWLN:

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