In 1971, Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan through an armed and bloody struggle known as the Liberation War. The war lasted for nine long months.

The Pakistani forces committed genocide during the Liberation War, but Pakistan has never officially expressed any remorse for this.

Now, Pakistan wants a resolution to the "question of 1971." To discuss this, Pakistan's High Commissioner in Dhaka, Syed Ahmad Maroof, has proposed talks with Md. Nahid Islam, the interim government's Advisor on Information and Broadcasting, and Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology.

The proposal was made during a discussion on bilateral interests held at the conference room of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology at the Secretariat on Sunday.

Pakistan's High Commissioner Ahmad Maroof told Advisor Nahid Islam, "We want to resolve the question of 1971. But the previous government (Awami League) did not give us any opportunity for dialogue and deliberately kept the 1971 issue alive. This could have been resolved a long time ago. We are interested in establishing relations with Bangladesh."

In response, Advisor and Chief Coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Nahid Islam said, "1971 is a significant issue in Bangladesh's political history. In the ideology of the Awami League, 1971 was the final chapter of history. However, we believe it is part of historical continuity. Without 1947 or the Pakistan Movement, Bangladesh would not have been established. We want to resolve the question of 1971 with Pakistan."

The advisor further stated, "For a democratic South Asia, it is necessary for us to strengthen our mutual relations. We are willing to maintain relations with any country while upholding Bangladesh's independence, sovereignty, and national interest.