Dhaka: Pakistan has expressed its grave concerns over the executions of two war criminals, drawing angry response from Dhaka where the authorities have summoned Pakistani envoy to protest the statement.

‘The unfortunate executions’, as a Pakistan foreign ministry put it in a statement issued on Sunday, has ‘deeply disturbed’ the country from which Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 through a 9-month bloody war.

Two war convicted criminals, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, were executed together at 12:55am Sunday for their crimes against humanity during the war.

‘Pakistan is deeply disturbed at this development,’ said a spokesperson of the Pakistan ministry of foreign affairs in a statement on the execution.

‘As emphasized earlier, we’ve also been noting the reaction of the international community on the flawed trials in Bangladesh related to events of 1971,’ the statement added.

It was said there is a need for reconciliation in Bangladesh in accordance with the spirit of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan Agreement of 9th April 1974.

‘The Agreement calls for a forward looking approach in matters relating to 1971. This would foster goodwill and harmony,’ the statement mentioned.

Bangladesh’s response was quick and strong as the government on Sunday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka Suja Alam for his country’s remarks over Bangladesh war criminals’ execution, said an official at the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka on Sunday.

The official who spoke on condition of anonymity did not elaborate.

Protesting Pakistan’s statement over two war criminals’ execution, the government, earlier, said Pakistan has no moral right to poke its nose into Bangladesh’s internal affairs.

‘Pakistan has no moral right to give any opinion on our internal affairs,’ State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said.

He said the government will take ‘necessary steps’ by tomorrow (Monday) through the diplomatic channel.