ISLAMABAD: The prime ministers of Bangladesh and Malaysia on Saturday formally excused themselves from attending the upcoming D-8 conference in Pakistan scheduled for Nov 22.

Sources told DawnNews that Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid has formally informed the Pakistani government through the Bangladeshi foreign office that she would not be attending the summit, despite having initially agreed to do so.

According to reports, the Bangladeshi foreign minister had sought an apology from Pakistan for war crimes allegedly committed during the 1971 war after which the former East Pakistan acquired its independence.

Pakistan has said that it has regretted in different forms in the past and that “it was time to move forward.”

Earlier reports had said that Bangladesh would be represented at the conference by Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, however, no confirmation has yet been received in this regard

Meanwhile, sources further told DawnNews that the Malaysian prime minister had also excused himself from attending the conference. The reasons behind the Malaysian PM’s cancellation could not be confirmed.