Clashes broke out between activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and police in several Bangladeshi cities after the execution of top Islamist leader Motiur Rahman Nizami for war crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan.
The clashes came as Bangladesh intensified security across the country following Jamaat’s call for a nationwide strike tomorrow to protest the execution of its top leader, heightening tensions in the Muslim-majority nation which is already reeling from a series of killings of secular activists.
73-year-old Nizami was hanged at midnight at the Central Jail in Bangladesh after the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal.
Security was tight across Bangladesh, with checkpoints erected on main roads in the national capital to deter violence, and thousands of police patrolling the streets.
Jamaat, the largest Islamist party in Bangladesh, described Nizami’s execution as a ‘planned murder’.
He (Nizami) was deprived of justice. He is a victim of political vengeance.Mokbul Ahmed, Acting Chief, Jamaat-e-Islami
War Of Words With Pakistan Over Execution
The execution of fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami has sparked a war of words between Pakistan and Bangladesh, with both sides taking sharp digs at each other.
Pakistan first expressed its ‘deep sadness’ over Nizami’s execution, saying his ‘only sin’ was upholding the Constitution and laws of Pakistan.
Pakistan is deeply saddened over the hanging of the Ameer of Jamat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Mr. Moti-ur-Rehman Nizami, for the alleged crimes committed before December, 1971. His only sin was upholding the constitution and laws of Pakistan.Official Statement, Pakistani Foreign Office
Bangladesh quickly hit back, saying the content of Pakistan’s statement reaffirmed Nizami’s role as a ‘traitor’ who sided with Pakistani troops against ‘sovereign Bangladesh’ in 1971.
Islamabad’s statement is complete interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs, which they have been repeating systematically. The content of Islamabad’s statement now made it clear that Nizami was a ‘traitor’ by being the chief of the infamous Al-Badr militia force in 1971, when he sided with the Pakistani troops.Shahriar Alam, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bangladeshi Government
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