Dhaka: A Bangladesh war crimes tribunal today handed down death penalty to a top leader of fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami for “crimes against humanity” during the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan, triggering fierce clashes across the country that left at least 37 people dead. The 73-year-old Delwar Hossain Sayedee, vice-president of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), was sentenced to death after he was found guilty of eight counts out of 20 involving rape, mass killings and atrocities during the nine-month freedom war. [caption id=“attachment_644522” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The northern districts of Bangladesh were the worst hit by the riots. Reuters[/caption] “He (Delwar Hossain Sayedee) will be hanged by neck till he is dead,” pronounced chairman of the three-judge International Crimes Tribunal Justice A T M Fazle Kabir. The clashes broke out as the news of Sayadee’s death penalty spread. The violence have killed at least 37 people, including four policemen, and injured scores of others. Police battled JI activists during a strike the party had called to denounce the trial and demand Sayedee’s acquittal. The Jamaat activists attacked policemen with bombs and even firearms, the authorties said, adding that they retaliated with tear gas and rubber bullets. At some place police opened fire to control the situation. The northern districts were the worst hit with six deaths reported from Gaibandha, five in Thakurgaon, five in Rangpur, two in Sirajganj, and one each in Dinajpur, Natore, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Bogra. Four deaths were reported from Satkhira, three from Chittagong, two in Noakhali, one each in Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar and Moulvibazar. Meanwhile, JI has called a 48-hour nationwide strike from Sunday protesting death penalty for Sayedee. Amiruzzaman, Jamaat chief of Chittagong (North), said the party would organise special prayers tomorrow and stage protest rallies on Saturday across the country. Sayedee is the third JI politician to be convicted by the Tribunal since the trial of war crimes suspects, mostly belonging to the Islamist group, began three years ago. In the first verdict in January, former Jamaat leader Abul Kalam Azad was sentenced to death on similar charges. PTI
The clashes broke out as the news of Sayadee’s death penalty spread. The violence have killed at least 35 people, including four policemen, and injured scores of others.
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