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Bangladesh deploys thousands of police after war crimes death sentence Bangladesh deploys thousands of police after war crimes death sentence
(35 minutes later)
Authorities in Bangladesh have deployed thousands of police in the event of violence after the leader of the country’s biggest Islamist party was sentenced to death for crimes committed more than 40 years ago.Authorities in Bangladesh have deployed thousands of police in the event of violence after the leader of the country’s biggest Islamist party was sentenced to death for crimes committed more than 40 years ago.
Motiur Rahman Nizami, a senior member of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), was given the death penalty by a special tribunal set up by the government to try individuals accused of crimes relating to the war of independence from Pakistan in 1971.Motiur Rahman Nizami, a senior member of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), was given the death penalty by a special tribunal set up by the government to try individuals accused of crimes relating to the war of independence from Pakistan in 1971.
The conviction is one of a series over the last 18 months related to the conflict. Several high-profile judgments triggered months of violent protests last year. Clashes intensified in the runup to a contested national election held in January which was boycotted by the main opposition parties.The conviction is one of a series over the last 18 months related to the conflict. Several high-profile judgments triggered months of violent protests last year. Clashes intensified in the runup to a contested national election held in January which was boycotted by the main opposition parties.
Enayetur Rahim, the most senior judge on the three-strong tribunal, sentenced Nizami, 71, to be hanged after being found guilty of orchestrating the killing of doctors, intellectuals and others during the conflict.Enayetur Rahim, the most senior judge on the three-strong tribunal, sentenced Nizami, 71, to be hanged after being found guilty of orchestrating the killing of doctors, intellectuals and others during the conflict.
“It’s a historic verdict,” Haider Ali, chief prosecutor, told reporters outside the packed and heavily guarded court in Dhaka.“It’s a historic verdict,” Haider Ali, chief prosecutor, told reporters outside the packed and heavily guarded court in Dhaka.
News of the sentence provoked violent protests in cities and towns in northern Bangladesh, where police fired baton rounds and used teargas, but the capital, Dhaka, remained calm.News of the sentence provoked violent protests in cities and towns in northern Bangladesh, where police fired baton rounds and used teargas, but the capital, Dhaka, remained calm.
Officials from JI have called for a 24-hour general strike from Thursday and a 48-hour national stoppage from Sunday in protest against the verdict.Officials from JI have called for a 24-hour general strike from Thursday and a 48-hour national stoppage from Sunday in protest against the verdict.
Nizami, who is already imprisoned on arms trafficking charges, had faced 16 counts including murder, rape, looting, destruction of properties and collaboration with the Pakistan army. He was acquitted of eight charges, but was given life imprisonment in four and death in another four.Nizami, who is already imprisoned on arms trafficking charges, had faced 16 counts including murder, rape, looting, destruction of properties and collaboration with the Pakistan army. He was acquitted of eight charges, but was given life imprisonment in four and death in another four.
“It is a very unhappy judgment and we are going to challenge this in the supreme court,” said Tajul Islam, head of Nizami’s defence team.“It is a very unhappy judgment and we are going to challenge this in the supreme court,” said Tajul Islam, head of Nizami’s defence team.
The prosecution said the JI leader’s pro-Pakistan al-Badr militia had systematically tortured and executed pro-liberation supporters during the 1971 conflict. Intellectuals including teachers, engineers and journalists were specifically targeted, prosecutors said.The prosecution said the JI leader’s pro-Pakistan al-Badr militia had systematically tortured and executed pro-liberation supporters during the 1971 conflict. Intellectuals including teachers, engineers and journalists were specifically targeted, prosecutors said.
Nizami’s lawyers maintained there was “no proof” that their client “was a member or a commander of al-Badr”, and said they would file an appeal with the Bangladesh’s highest court within 30 days. Nizami’s lawyers maintained there was no proof that their client was a member or a commander of al-Badr, and said they would file an appeal with the Bangladesh’s highest court within 30 days.
The Awami League, the ruling party in Bangladesh since 2008, welcomed the tribunal’s decision, saying it “fulfilled people’s expectations”.) The Awami League, the ruling party in Bangladesh since 2008, welcomed the tribunal’s decision, saying it “fulfilled people’s expectations”.
The tribunal was set up in 2010 by Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League and daughter of the wartime leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to “secure justice for victims of the 1971 conflict and heal the rifts of the civil war era”, senior party officials say.The tribunal was set up in 2010 by Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League and daughter of the wartime leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to “secure justice for victims of the 1971 conflict and heal the rifts of the civil war era”, senior party officials say.
It has, however, been divisive. The leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP), Khaleda Zia, the widow of the independence war’s best-known military commander who later became president, Ziaur Rahman, has accused Hasina of politicising the tribunal and using it to hound political enemies.It has, however, been divisive. The leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP), Khaleda Zia, the widow of the independence war’s best-known military commander who later became president, Ziaur Rahman, has accused Hasina of politicising the tribunal and using it to hound political enemies.
Most of those indicted for war crimes by the tribunal are from JI, an ally of the BNP. Nizami once served as a minister in a BNP-led government.Most of those indicted for war crimes by the tribunal are from JI, an ally of the BNP. Nizami once served as a minister in a BNP-led government.
Despite criticism from human rights groups about politicisation and procedural flaws, the war crimes tribunal has remained broadly popular.Despite criticism from human rights groups about politicisation and procedural flaws, the war crimes tribunal has remained broadly popular.
Young people linked to a movement that started in Dhaka in February last year demanding the death penalty for all JI leaders accused of war crimes had waited outside the court rooms for the verdict.Young people linked to a movement that started in Dhaka in February last year demanding the death penalty for all JI leaders accused of war crimes had waited outside the court rooms for the verdict.
“We are pleased … but we are still worried because we have seen in the past that the tribunal’s judgment had been changed [on appeal],” Maruf Rosul, a member of the youth movement said. “We are pleased … but we are still worried because we have seen in the past that the tribunal’s judgment had been changed [on appeal],” Maruf Rosul, a member of the youth movement, said.
In September Bangladesh’s supreme court commuted the death sentence of Delwar Hossain Saydee, another JI leader who sentenced to death in February 2013 on eight counts involving mass killings, rape and other atrocities during the war. In September Bangladesh’s supreme court commuted the death sentence of Delwar Hossain Saydee, another JI leader who was sentenced to death in February 2013 on eight counts involving mass killings, rape and other atrocities during the war.
Historians still dispute the number of people killed in the 1971 independence struggle and civil war, which ended after Indian intervention and the collapse of Pakistani resistance. Estimates range from 200,000 to three million. Historians still dispute the number of people killed in the 1971 independence struggle and civil war, which ended after Indian intervention and the collapse of Pakistani resistance. Estimates range from 200,000 to 3 million.
The most serious single charge upheld against Nizami was “planning to commit crimes, killing 450 people, raping 30-40 women and deporting of villagers in Pabna on 14 May 1971”. He was acquitted of killing 70 people from the Hindu community at Brishalikha village on 3 December 1971.The most serious single charge upheld against Nizami was “planning to commit crimes, killing 450 people, raping 30-40 women and deporting of villagers in Pabna on 14 May 1971”. He was acquitted of killing 70 people from the Hindu community at Brishalikha village on 3 December 1971.
Estimates of the death toll in political violence over 2013 range from about 150 to more than 500. Casualties have been lower since the election, with the BNP and JI apparently aware that they appear to have lost this most recent round of political manoeuvre in the poverty-stricken south Asian state of 150 million inhabitants.Estimates of the death toll in political violence over 2013 range from about 150 to more than 500. Casualties have been lower since the election, with the BNP and JI apparently aware that they appear to have lost this most recent round of political manoeuvre in the poverty-stricken south Asian state of 150 million inhabitants.