The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Army Headquarters yesterday at a press release termed false and fabricated some newspaper reports and editorial that the Army Chief during his India visit had stated that Bangladesh would show respect to the martyred Indian soldiers of 1971 on March 25 every year.

The ISPR release said, "As a matter of fact, during his India visit, the Army Chief didn't make any such statement formally or informally.

It said that at different meetings during the visit, apart from entourage of the Army Chief, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to India was present.

"During the meeting of the two Army Chiefs, the Bangladesh Army Chief recalled with respect India's cooperation and sacrifice during the Liberation War and expressed his gratitude," said the release.

Referring to the reports published by Indian English daily The Hindu on February 26 and Bangladesh Today on February 27 and Sadeq Khan's editorial published in daily Naya Diganta on March 7, the release said the Army Chief is well aware that there is no link of martyred Indian soldiers with March 25 and 26. Therefore, such commitment is completely absurd, it said.

There was no journalist present at the Army Chief's meetings and exchange of opinions during the visit. So there was no scope for collecting such information, it further noted.

This is fabricated and false information, which was published with a motive, said ISPR adding, "The Army Chief has never made such statement and the Army Chief is completely aware of his jurisdiction and terms of reference."