Dhaka: Bangladesh on Monday protested against Turkish reaction over the judicial execution of Mir Quasem Ali for committing crimes against humanity in 1971.

‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh has issued a note verbale to the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka on Monday conveying Bangladesh’s dismay . . . and stated that such reactions tantamount to interference in matters pertaining to a sovereign State,’ a foreign office statement said here today.

The statement said the protest note pointed out that such reaction did not help foster bilateral relations that existed between the two brotherly countries.

‘Given the genesis of the establishing of the International Crimes Tribunals (ICT-BD) it was expressed that through these trials against the perpetrators of war crime and crime against humanity committed in 1971, the long cherished aspiration of the nation will be fulfilled, justice ensured, rule of law upheld and opportunities for true reconciliation will be created,’ it read.

 It said the note verbale elaborated the crimes perpetrated by Quasem, one of the central commanders of the infamous Al Badr militia force in 1971 in Chittagong during the Liberation War.

‘The verdicts against him had been handed down through an independent, fair and transparent judicial process, with full access given to national and international media and without any political interference,’ the statement said quoting the protest note.

It said the defence lawyers were given unimpeded access to the proceedings of the court throughout the trial process.

‘The ICT-BD trials took solely into consideration the crimes i.e. crimes against humanity and genocide in Bangladesh committed by Mr. Ali during 1971 and was not at all based on his political identity or affiliation,’ the statement read.