Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been urged by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus to settle the unresolved issues of 1971 to advance Dhaka's relations with Islamabad.

Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday (December 19) at a hotel in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on the sidelines of the D-8 summit. At that time, the Chief Adviser said, the issues are coming up again and again. Let us resolve those issues to move forward.

In response, Sharif said, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India have resolved the issues in the 1974 tripartite agreement, but if there are other unresolved issues, he would be happy to see them.

Professor Yunus said, it would be better to resolve the issues permanently for future generations.

They agreed to strengthen ties between the two countries through increased trade and exchange of sports and cultural delegations.

A message obtained here said the two leaders expressed their desire to expand cooperation in new areas such as the sugar industry and dengue management.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Shehbaz Sharif discussed issues of mutual interest, including the revival of SAARC, a key feature of the foreign policy declared by the Chief Adviser after taking charge as the head of Bangladesh's interim government.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, also mentioned his government's plan to carry out "necessary reforms" and hold general elections before mid-2026. The Chief Adviser said he was leading a consensus-building commission to discuss reforms.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for developing strategic ties between Dhaka and Islamabad. Shehbaz Sharif said, “We are really looking forward to strengthening relations with our brotherly Bangladesh.” He welcomed Dr. Yunus’ initiative in reviving SAARC and thanked Bangladesh for working on the possibility of hosting a summit of the regional organization.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, “This is a top priority.” He said, “I am a big fan of the idea of SAARC. I will continue to talk about the issue. I want a summit of SAARC leaders.” He said, “Even if it is just for a photo shoot, it will carry a strong message.”

The Pakistani Prime Minister offered technical assistance to better manage Bangladesh’s state-run sugar mills. He expressed grief over the deaths due to the dengue outbreak in Bangladesh and said Dhaka can benefit from Pakistan’s experience in fighting the disease.

Shehbaz Sharif said, “About a decade ago, our fight against dengue in Punjab was praised as world-class. We can send a delegation to Bangladesh to share our experiences with Bangladeshi officials.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus thanked Shehbaz Sharif for his support and hoped that Pakistan and Bangladesh would continue this effort.

Among others, the event was attended by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Bangladesh's Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Dr. Lutfe Siddiqui. Lutfe Siddiqui invited Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to visit Bangladesh on his way to Malaysia in February, and he accepted the offer.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also invited Dr. Muhammad Yunus to visit Pakistan at his convenience. 

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has said that three members of a gang of dacoits who entered the Jinjira branch of Rupali Bank in Chunkutia Pakapul area of South Keraniganj police station in the capital have surrendered. Firearms were recovered from them during the raid.

They surrendered at around 5:30 pm on Thursday (December 19), said RAB-10 Commander (CO) Khalilur Rahman Howlader.

The dacoits were unable to break the bank's vault, he said, adding that everyone trapped inside was rescued unharmed.

Earlier, on Thursday (December 19), the dacoits entered the bank at around 2 pm. At that time, when the news of the dacoity was reported from the microphone of a nearby mosque, hundreds of locals surrounded the bank branch and locked it from outside. Later, teams of police, RAB, fire service and army reached the spot and surrounded the bank.

It is learnt that after the news of the dacoity gang attacking the bank spread, an eager crowd gathered there. At that time, traffic on both sides of the main road adjacent to the bank was stopped for security reasons. In addition, an announcement was made from the microphone of the nearby mosque for the robbery gang to surrender. They surrendered towards evening with the efforts of the law enforcement agencies.

The Awami League has no objection to participating in the upcoming national elections - the Anti-discrimination student movement has clearly rejected the statement made by the head of the Election Reform Commission, Badiul Alam Majumder.

A statement signed by the Anti-discrimination student movement spokesperson Umama Fatema on Thursday (December 19) said that the Awami League in a group responsible for several genocides in Bangladesh. In addition, the Awami League has been involved in various anti-human rights activities including disappearances, murders, and extrajudicial killings for the past 16 years. The Awami League has killed nearly two thousand martyrs and the mutilation of more than thirty thousand people in the latest July genocide. The Awami League has illegally hijacked the last three elections. Giving the party that has tarnished the electoral system of Bangladesh an opportunity to participate in the elections is against the will of the people.

It was further said that the Anti-discrimination student movement stands against the participation of the Awami League in any political activities. If the Awami League participates in any political activity, including elections, the blood of the martyrs of the July Uprising will be devalued.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has urged the head of the Election Reform Commission, Badiul Alam Majumder, to withdraw his statement and take appropriate measures to prevent the Awami League from participating in the elections.

Earlier, on Thursday (December 19) afternoon, the head of the Election Reform Commission, Badiul Alam Majumder, held an open discussion with people from different levels, including the local administration, political parties and civil society, on the reform of the election system at the Rangpur Deputy Commissioner's office.

There, journalists wanted to know whether the Awami League would be able to participate in the next election. In response, Badiul Alam said, "Like you, we are also waiting to see that. But I do not see any obstacles. I do not see anything that has been created for them. We want an inclusive election, those who want to vote with all preparations will be able to vote. No obstacles will be placed. I hope that all parties will participate in the elections."

A complaint has been filed with the International Crimes Tribunal against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Army Chief General Moin U Ahmed and 57 others in the Peelkhana massacre of February 25 and 26, 2009.

The family members of the martyred army officers filed the complaint with the tribunal on Thursday (December 19) afternoon.

It is learnt that 15-20 family members including Rakin Ahmed, son of then BDR DG Major General Shakil Ahmed, Ferdousi, wife of Colonel Mujibur Haque, and Shakib Rahman, son of Colonel Qudrat Elahi, were present at the time.

In October, Supreme Court lawyers Tanvir Ahmed and Biplab Kumar Poddar filed a writ petition seeking directions to form a national independent committee to investigate the ‘genocide’ of February 25 and 26, 2009 at the then BDR headquarters.

The writ petitioners filed a petition with the Home Secretary (Public Security Division) on November 3 requesting that the government form a national independent investigation committee or commission to find out the truth and take steps to declare 'Martyrs' Day' in the future.

After that, the High Court, after holding a preliminary hearing on the writ, issued an order along with a rule on November 5. The High Court ordered the Home Secretary to dispose of the application filed with the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary was directed to dispose of the application within 10 days and submit a report to the court.

In continuation of this, the writ was put on the agenda on December 2. On that day, the state informed the High Court that the relevant authorities had started the process of forming a national independent committee. The Deputy Attorney General also requested two weeks' time. In view of this, the writ was filed in the court on December 15 for a court order.

On that day, the court said that the hearing in the murder case (death reference) surrounding the Peelkhana murder is ongoing in the Appellate Division. The other case is pending in the temporary court set up at the parade ground of the prison superintendent in Bakshibazar, Dhaka. Therefore, the formation of the committee proposed as per the writ petitioner's demand is in conflict with the court order, so it is not possible to form the committee for the time being.

When the affected called for a movement on this, on December 17, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that an investigation committee will be formed within the next five working days to ensure justice in the BDR killings in Peelkhana. He said that the committee will have five to nine members. Among them will be retired judges, retired administration officials, retired police officers and armed forces officials.

It is worth noting that on February 25 and 26, 2009, 74 people, including 57 army officers, lost their lives at the then BDR headquarters. On February 28 of that year, two cases were filed at Lalbagh Police Station under the Murder and Explosives Acts. Later, the two cases were transferred to New Market Police Station. The trial was held in a temporary courthouse adjacent to the Alia Madrasa field adjacent to the Dhaka Central Jail. After the trial, Dhaka Metropolitan Third Special Court Judge Md. Akhtaruzzaman announced the verdict on November 5, 2013.

The verdict sentenced 152 people to death, including former BDR DAD Touhid. In addition, 160 people, including former BNP MP Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu (late) and local Awami League leader Torab Ali, were sentenced to life imprisonment and 256 people were sentenced to various terms. 277 people were acquitted as the charges were not proven. The case filed under the Explosives Act in this incident is still pending in the lower court.