Bangladesh tribunal sentences Islamic party leader to life in jail for 1971 war role

By Farid Hossain

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DHAKA, Bangladesh — A Bangladeshi tribunal sentenced a leader of the country’s main Islamic party to life in jail Tuesday for his role during the independence war against Pakistan in 1971.

The tribunal pronounced the verdict Tuesday against Abdul Quader Mollah in a packed courtroom at the High Court in Dhaka. His Jamaat-e-Islami party had already ordered a general strike that shut down schools and shops and halted most traffic in Dhaka.

Jamaat supporters exploded homemade bombs and clashed with police in parts of the capital, leaving several people injured, ATN News said.

Mollah and five other leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami party have been on trial before Dhaka’s International Crimes Tribunal. They have been accused of committing atrocities during the nine-month war against Pakistan more than 40 years ago. A former party member was sentenced to death last month.

The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010 initiated the process of trying those accused of committing crimes against humanity during the war, under an amended 1973 law.

Jamaat-e-Islami — a key partner in a former Bangladeshi government — says the charges are politically motivated. Authorities deny the claim.

Jamaat campaigned against Bangladesh’s independence war and stands accused of forming several groups to help the Pakistani troops in killing, rape and arson. Until it gained independence in 1971, Bangladesh was the eastern wing of Pakistan, and Bangladesh says Pakistani troops aided by local collaborators killed 3 million people and raped 200,000 women.

Mollah was tried on six counts, including playing a role in the killing of 381 unarmed civilians, the prosecution says. He denied the charges.

Last month, the tribunal sentenced former party member Abul Kalam Azad to death in the first war-crimes trial verdict.

International human rights groups have raised questions about the conduct of the tribunals, including the disappearance of a defence witness outside the courthouse gates.

Jamaat-e-Islami was a key partner in the former government of Khaleda Zia, a longtime political rival of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Zia has called the tribunal a farce, while Hasina has urged Zia to stop backing those she says fought against independence.

02:21ET 05-02-13