Dhaka, April 17 -- Bangladesh has asked Pakistan to resolve historical issues to strengthen ties between the two nations by seeking a formal apology for the 1971 genocide and compensation of about $4.5 billion.

Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin said these matters were raised during a meeting with Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch in Dhaka on Thursday.

In a briefing after the meeting, he said: "I have raised the existing historically unresolved issues with Pakistan, including repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, Bangladesh's fair share of undivided wealth, transfer of foreign aid money sent for the victims of the 1970 cyclone, and a formal apology for the genocide committed by the then Pakistani armed forces in 1971.

"As a friendly n...