DHAKA: Bangladesh on Friday witnessed a fresh round of fatal clashes that began after a war crimes tribunal sentenced a Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) senior leader to death for multiple crimes during the 1971 independence war against Pakistan, triggering widespread protests by JI supporters.
On Thursday, the 73-year-old Delwar Hossain Sayedee, the vice-president of the JI and a fiery Islamic preacher, was the third person to be found guilty by the International Crimes Tribunal, a much-criticised domestic court based in Dhaka, set up to investigate abuses during the country’s independence war.
A local police chief Nahidul Islam told media that one person has been killed on Friday after hundreds of pro-government supporters and followers of the rival Islamic party party clashed with sticks at a market in the northern district of Gaibandha.
At least 34 people were killed on Thursday in clashes that erupted after a Bangladeshi court sentenced Sayedee to death on charges of being involved in killing, rape and religious persecution during decades ago independence conflict.
Thursday was the deadliest political day of violence in the impoverished country’s history since winning its independence four decades ago.
The sources said that security has been tightened across the Muslim-majority country ahead of Friday prayers, with border guards deployed in major cities.
A number of planned demonstrations at several troublespots have been banned while authorities in the country’s biggest mosque, Baitul Mokarram, have locked some of the gates in a bid to limit numbers.
DND
