Five killed in violence as Bangladesh buries executed Islamist leader

Dhaka: At least five persons were killed and nearly 150 vehicles torched on Friday in a fresh bout of violence in Bangladesh during clashes between angry Jamaat activists and Awami League supporters as executed Islamist leader Abdul Quader Mollah was buried at his hometown.

Mollah, the first person to be hanged for war crimes in 1971 independence war, was buried at the family graveyard at Amirabad village in Faridpur district early morning after funeral prayers, District Magistrate Md Mamun Shiblee, who supervised the burial, said. The execution of the 65-year-old Jamaat leader, infamous as `Butcher of Mirpur`, took place last night after the Supreme Court earlier in the day rejected his review petition. Jammat-e-Islami called the execution a "political murder" vowed to take revenge for the execution, sparking clashes across the country. Senior Jammat leader Makbul Ahmed said that "people would take revenge on this killing by establishing Islam in Bangladesh." "I urge all the people who support the cause of the Islamic movement to show utmost patience to build a strong resistance," Ahmed said in a statement. Activists of Jamaat and its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, vandalised, torched and looted around 50 houses and business establishments of Awami League (AL) supporters and minorities in different areas of the district after Mollah`s execution, said Joybeb Chowdhury, additional superintendent of police in Satkhira. An Awami League leader and a Juba League functionary were killed early today in Satkhira, bdnews24 quoted police as saying. A rickshaw puller was killed in a clash between law enforcers and Jamaat activists in Noakhali?s Begumganj while A BNP activist was shot dead at Zianagar Upazila in Pirozpur. A Jamaat activist was run over by a truck while he was trying to set the vehicle on fire in Jessore`s Bagharparha. At least 150 vehicles were torched and over 50 vandalised as Jamaat-Shibir activists went on the rampage across the country. Jamaat supporters also took out flash processions and exploded crude bombs at several other areas. They clashed with police at many places. At many places, police opened fire and shot several rounds to disperse the protesters. Jamaat supporters torched shops owned by AL leaders and activists at different Unions at Banshkhali in Chittagong and blockaded roads. The Islamist party has announced a nationwide strike on Sunday to protest the execution of Mollah.