Bangladesh sentences ex-MP to death for war crimes in 1971

Order against Sakhawat Hossain was crimes during Bangladesh liberation war.

A special tribunal dealing with war crimes committed during Bangladesh’s independence war against Pakistan in 1971 on Wednesday sentenced a former lawmaker to death and seven others to life in prison for murder and other crimes.

The tribunal sentenced Sakhawat Hossain, a former parliament member belonging to the Jamaat-e-Islami party, to death on Wednesday. He and one of the other defendants were present in the court. The six others were tried in absentia.

3 million killed, 2 lakh raped

Bangladesh says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed 3 million people and raped 200,000 women in 1971.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated the process of prosecuting suspected war criminals in 2010 by forming the tribunal. More than 20 people have already been convicted, and five men, mostly Jamaat-e-Islami’s top leaders, have been executed.

Jamaat-e-Islami party openly campaigned against Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 and formed militia groups to help the Pakistani army crush the uprising.