This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-29875827

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Bangladesh upholds Islamist Kamaruzzaman death sentence Bangladesh upholds Islamist Kamaruzzaman death sentence
(about 7 hours later)
Bangladesh's supreme court has upheld the death sentence given to a leader in the country's largest Islamist party. Bangladesh's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence given to a leader in the country's largest Islamist party for atrocities committed during the country's war of independence.
Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, was found guilty of genocide and torture by a special war crimes tribunal in May last year. Mohammad Kamaruzzaman of the Jamaat-e-Islami was found guilty of genocide and torture by a special war crimes tribunal in May last year.
The same tribunal sentenced party chief Motiur Rahman Nizami to death last week for war crimes. The same tribunal sentenced party chief Motiur Rahman Nizami to die last week.
Another leader, Mir Quasem Ali, was also given the death penalty on Sunday.Another leader, Mir Quasem Ali, was also given the death penalty on Sunday.
Kamaruzzaman, 62, is due to be hanged for atrocities committed during the country's war of independence from Pakistan in 1971. Kamaruzzaman, 62, was found guilty of crimes which include a mass killing of at least 120 unarmed male farmers in the northern border town of Sohagpur.
Among his crimes was a mass killing of at least 120 unarmed male farmers in the northern border town of Sohagpur. He is due to be hanged.
The convictions of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders have outraged supporters, who have conducted a three-day strike, due to end on Monday, in protest of Nizami's sentencing last Wednesday. The convictions of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders have outraged supporters, who have been on a three-day strike, due to end on Monday, in protest at Nizami's sentencing last Wednesday.
There are different estimates for the number of people killed in the nine-month Bangladeshi war of secession. There are different estimates for the number of people killed in the nine-month Bangladeshi war of secession from Pakistan in 1971.
Government figures suggest as many as three million people died, while some say that figure is too high and unverifiable.Government figures suggest as many as three million people died, while some say that figure is too high and unverifiable.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up the war crimes tribunal in 2010 to look into abuses during the independence war.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up the war crimes tribunal in 2010 to look into abuses during the independence war.
The first person the tribunal executed was Jamaat-e-Islami senior leader Abdul Kader Mullah. The first person the tribunal executed was Jamaat-e-Islami senior leader Abdul Kader Mullah last December.
But earlier this year the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence passed against another senior JI leader, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, commuting it to life imprisonment.
Critics of the controversial court say the government is using the tribunal to target political opponents. But the Awami League, which leads the current government, says it is necessary to help the country come to terms with its past.Critics of the controversial court say the government is using the tribunal to target political opponents. But the Awami League, which leads the current government, says it is necessary to help the country come to terms with its past.
Violent clashes across Bangladesh over the tribunal's verdicts in 2013 left about 100 people dead, BBC Bengali's Akbar Hossein reports.
Bangladesh independence war, 1971Bangladesh independence war, 1971