Bangladesh riots deadly after Islamist sentenced
Source: AFP |
February 6, 2013, Wednesday
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DEADLY riots broke out in Bangladeshi cities yesterday after a court sentenced a senior Islamist opposition leader to life in prison for mass murder during the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan.
Abdul Quader Mollah, 64, the fourth-highest leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was the first politician found guilty by the International Crimes Tribunal, a much-criticized domestic court based in Dhaka.
Mollah cried "Allahu Akbar!" (God is greater) and called the charges false after presiding judge Obaidul Hassan delivered the verdict in a crowded, tightly guarded court.
"He deserved the death sentence because of the gravity of the crimes. But the court gave him life imprisonment," said Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, adding Mollah was found guilty of five out of six charges including mass murder.
A man was shot dead in clashes with police in the port city of Chittagong as the ruling sparked immediate protests by Jamaat, the country's largest Islamic party, which enforced a nationwide strike in anticipation of the conviction.
"We fired in self-defense after hundreds of protesters attacked us with firearms and handmade bombs," said Habibur Rahman, deputy police commissioner.
A home-made bomb killed another man late yesterday, Dhaka's Daily Star newspaper said. It did not provide further details and police officials were not immediately available to comment on the second death.
Police also clashed with protesters in the capital Dhaka, firing rubber bullets to disperse a group of protesters who were smashing vehicles.
And in the northwestern city of Rajshahi police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at about 500 Jamaat supporters who hurled a dozen homemade firebombs.
The verdict is the second by the tribunal. On January 21 a top TV preacher who is an ex-Jamaat official was sentenced to death in absentia for murder and genocide.
Ten other opposition figures - including the entire leadership of Jamaat and two from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party - are accused of war crimes. Both Jamaat and BNP have labeled the cases "show trials" aimed at barring leaders from upcoming polls. International rights groups have questioned the proceedings.
Mollah was a senior figure in the then-student wing of Jamaat in 1971, while studying physics at Dhaka University, and a member of a pro-Pakistan militia accused of killing hundreds of thousands.
"He directly participated in the killing of over 350 unarmed Bengali civilians including a poet and a top journalist," said prosecutor Mohammad Ali, adding he was known as "Butcher of Mirpur," a Dhaka suburb.
"He killed my father and he got away. I am not happy," said Khandoker Abul Ahsan, son of Khandoker Abu Taleb, a well-known journalist killed during the 1971 war.
Abdul Quader Mollah, 64, the fourth-highest leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was the first politician found guilty by the International Crimes Tribunal, a much-criticized domestic court based in Dhaka.
Mollah cried "Allahu Akbar!" (God is greater) and called the charges false after presiding judge Obaidul Hassan delivered the verdict in a crowded, tightly guarded court.
"He deserved the death sentence because of the gravity of the crimes. But the court gave him life imprisonment," said Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, adding Mollah was found guilty of five out of six charges including mass murder.
A man was shot dead in clashes with police in the port city of Chittagong as the ruling sparked immediate protests by Jamaat, the country's largest Islamic party, which enforced a nationwide strike in anticipation of the conviction.
"We fired in self-defense after hundreds of protesters attacked us with firearms and handmade bombs," said Habibur Rahman, deputy police commissioner.
A home-made bomb killed another man late yesterday, Dhaka's Daily Star newspaper said. It did not provide further details and police officials were not immediately available to comment on the second death.
Police also clashed with protesters in the capital Dhaka, firing rubber bullets to disperse a group of protesters who were smashing vehicles.
And in the northwestern city of Rajshahi police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at about 500 Jamaat supporters who hurled a dozen homemade firebombs.
The verdict is the second by the tribunal. On January 21 a top TV preacher who is an ex-Jamaat official was sentenced to death in absentia for murder and genocide.
Ten other opposition figures - including the entire leadership of Jamaat and two from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party - are accused of war crimes. Both Jamaat and BNP have labeled the cases "show trials" aimed at barring leaders from upcoming polls. International rights groups have questioned the proceedings.
Mollah was a senior figure in the then-student wing of Jamaat in 1971, while studying physics at Dhaka University, and a member of a pro-Pakistan militia accused of killing hundreds of thousands.
"He directly participated in the killing of over 350 unarmed Bengali civilians including a poet and a top journalist," said prosecutor Mohammad Ali, adding he was known as "Butcher of Mirpur," a Dhaka suburb.
"He killed my father and he got away. I am not happy," said Khandoker Abul Ahsan, son of Khandoker Abu Taleb, a well-known journalist killed during the 1971 war.
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