Islamist leader sentenced to death, but Bangladesh continues downward spiral
Dhaka (AsiaNews)
- Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, a prominent figure of the Jamaat-e-Islami (Islamic fundamentalist party), was sentenced to
death for mass murder and torture committed during the Liberation War of 1971
in Bangladesh. The
International War Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka today issued the ruling against the
Islamic leader, ruling that he was guilty of five of the seven charges against
him. His
party has already announced a hartal (strike) to protest against the verdict.
This
is the sixth judgment against members of the Jamaat: two days ago Ghulam Azam,
considered the spiritual leader of the party, was sentenced to 90 years in
prison.
Currently
the secretary general of the party, in 1971 he led the Islami Chhatra Shibir
Mujahid (now student wing of the party). On
14 December of that year, two days before the surrender of the Pakistani army
and the proclamation of independence, he was among those who ordered the
execution of more than 100 intellectuals in Dhaka.
Jamaat claims the International Tribunal's verdicts are 'biased' and for months has been using the hartal as a form of protest. However, these strikes systematically degenerate into violence of all kinds, even causing casualties.
An AsiaNews source
says the situation is exacerbated by new general elections to be held next
December and that will once more pit the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP, the
opposition Nationalist Party) against the Awami League (secularist party
currently in government) .
"One
of the government's campaign promises - he explains - was to see the 1971 war
criminals brought to justice". However, the source stresses, "it was
one of the few [points] maintained and involves all the great exponents of
Islamic fundamentalist party. The Government wanted to make a strong statement,
which is positive given that the prisoners are actually guilty. But the timing
is wrong. The risk now is that the BNP will win the next election, which is
supported by the Islamic fundamentalist party. "
And
the people are the ones paying the price for this political tug of war. "The
strikes - the source adds - are on a national scale and always degenerate into
violence and intimidation. For some time, Bangladesh has become a destination
for foreign investment, because our labor costs are low, but these tensions do not
help. Moreover, people are often blocked, can not move and can not lead a
normal life. " The
Bangladeshis, he says, "are not in favour of extremism, they are a calm people
in general but are growing tired and fed
up. This country is deteriorating."
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16/09/2017 10:37
