DHAKA,  – Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the demand of pro-BNP intellectual Dr Zafrullah for forgiving Pakistan is actually the internal statement of BNP.

“Advisor to the BNP chairperson Dr Zafrullah requested the government to pardon Pakistan when we are demanding that Pakistan would seek apology from us (Bangladesh). In fact, it is completely BNP’s statement, not Zafrullah. It is clear that they (BNP) did not forget Pakistan yet. I express my strong condemnation,” he said.

Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said, “From today’s meeting we are demanding that Pakistan would seek apology from us.”

The minister made the comments while addressing a memorial meeting at an auditorium of Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote (BSJ) organised the meeting in the memory of eminent actress Sarah Begum Kobori with its senior vice president Rafiqul Alam in the chair.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Murad Hasan addressed the meeting as special guest.

Hasan said Pakistan should seek apology from Bangladesh for their crimes against humanity in 1971.

Paying rich tribute to eminent actress Kobori, the minister said she (Kobori) practiced the spirit of Bangabandhu and stood beside Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina throughout her entire life. Kobori started her journey in the film arena just after a few years of beginning of the FDC by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he added.

The minister said the contribution of Sarah Begum Kobori in the filmdom will be written with golden letters. It is difficult to say whether there will be another artist like Sarah Begum Kabari or not, he added.

Hasan urged the cultural personalities to practice own culture instead of being indulged with foreign culture.

He said the nation (Bangladesh) is rich in its own culture, language and heritage.

Murad, in his speech, described Sarah Begum Kobori as legendary actress and said she will ever be remembered through her works.

AL deputy publicity secretary Aminul Islam Amin, AL Dhaka South city unit former general secretary Shah Alam Murad, AL leaders Advocate Boloram Poddar, MA Karim, actress Sujata, Dilara Yeasmin, Monoranjan Ghoshal, actress Tarin Jahan, journalist Sujan Halder and Barrister Sohorab Khan Chowdhury, among others, addressed the meeting while BSJ general secretary Arun Sarker Rana conducted it.