Bangladesh Jamaat official sentenced to death for war crimes

Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami party on Tuesday called for a nationwide strike on Wednesday and Thursday in protest against the death sentence handed over to its leader for war crimes against humanity during the country's Liberation War in 1971.

Jamaat also demanded release of its leader.

The announcement of the hartal was made shortly after a war crimes tribunal of the country sentenced Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Atm Azharul Islam to death for war crimes during the Liberation War.

The verdict came about a week after the tribunal sentenced former Minister Syed Mohammed Kaiser to death for war crimes.

By Ruchi Singh

AJP