Dhaka, July 30 (V7N) – Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul, legal advisor to the interim government, has expressed regret over his earlier remarks comparing the alleged atrocities of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates to the brutalities committed by the Pakistani army during the Liberation War of 1971.

Speaking at a discussion and information exhibition on the July Uprising massacre trials Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Nazrul claimed that the acts committed in July and August 2024 were so severe that they may have surpassed those of the Pakistani military. His statement quickly sparked a wave of public outrage and criticism on social media platforms.

In response, Dr. Nazrul took to his official Facebook account at approximately 7:30 PM the same day to offer a public clarification and apology.

“It was not right to compare Sheikh Hasina's atrocities with those of the Pakistani army,” he wrote. “Her actions are undoubtedly horrifying and unprecedented — including the burning of bodies and the injured, indiscriminate killing of women and children, the use of helicopters to kill civilians, and the denial of medical treatment to the wounded. These are considered grave crimes even in war.”

He continued,

“But just because of that, it is not right for me to compare her actions with the atrocities committed by the Pakistani army in 1971. Both are among the most heinous crimes in history. I apologize to those who felt that my comment undermined the genocide committed by the Pakistani army in 1971.”

The statement comes amid an emotionally charged period in Bangladesh, with ongoing trials related to the July Uprising and rising tensions between political factions. Dr. Nazrul’s retraction appears to be an attempt to quell public anger and maintain focus on the ongoing legal process.

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