A Bangladesh war crimes tribunal has convicted and sentenced to death an Islamist party leader on charges of genocide and torturing civilians.
Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, the assistant secretary-general of Jamaat-e Islami, is the fourth party leader to be convicted for abuses committed during the country’s 1971 war for independence from Pakistan.
Kamaruzzaman denied the charges.
Security forces were bracing for possible violence as an angry crowd gathered outside the court building to protest the May 9 ruling.
Dozens of people have been killed in clashes between Islamists and security forces since the tribunal delivered guilty verdicts against three other Jamaat leaders in January and March.
Verdicts for other Jamaat officials charged with war crimes are still pending.
Bangladesh’s nine-month war of secession left up to three million people dead.
Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, the assistant secretary-general of Jamaat-e Islami, is the fourth party leader to be convicted for abuses committed during the country’s 1971 war for independence from Pakistan.
Kamaruzzaman denied the charges.
Security forces were bracing for possible violence as an angry crowd gathered outside the court building to protest the May 9 ruling.
Dozens of people have been killed in clashes between Islamists and security forces since the tribunal delivered guilty verdicts against three other Jamaat leaders in January and March.
Verdicts for other Jamaat officials charged with war crimes are still pending.
Bangladesh’s nine-month war of secession left up to three million people dead.