Deaths as Bangladesh Strike Begins

Police drive past a fire light by protesters

BBC

At least 16 people have died in clashes in Bangladesh at the start of a strike called over a death sentence given to an Islamist party leader.

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, of Jamaat-e-Islami, was sentenced on charges including murder, rape and torture during the war of independence in 1971, reports the BBC.

Thursday's sentence sparked riots that have left more than 50 people dead.

The Islamists say the tribunal is politically motivated, something the Bangladesh government denies.

Jamaat-e-Islami called a two-day strike across the country in protest at the court ruling.

Troops were deployed in the northern district of Bogra, as Bangladeshi media reported Jamaat activists attacking police outposts early on Sunday.

At least seven people were killed and another 40 were hurt when protesters attacked police in different areas of Bogra, the Daily Star reported.

A police chief told AFP news agency that at least four people had died in the town of Shahjahanpur.

There were further deaths in the north-western town of Godagari when border guards and police opened fire on protesters who were attacking police with sticks and stones, an official told AFP.

The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan in the southern city of Chittagong says there has been no let up in the violence since the death sentence was issued.

Police have fought pitched battles with supporters of the Islamist party in many parts of the country.

Three people were killed in Chittagong on Saturday and Jamaat-e-Islami has accused the police of firing without provocation.

The Bangladeshi government rejected the criticism, saying violence against civilians and police officers would not be tolerated.

The US has expressed concern about the violence and has appealed for the protests to be peaceful.

The special war crimes tribunal is trying those accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces and committing atrocities during the country's independence war in 1971.

The tribunal is trying a total of nine Jamaat leaders and two members of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The BNP has also called for a nationwide strike, to take place on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, another Jamaat leader, Abdul Kader Mullah, was sentenced to life for crimes against humanity.

In January, former party leader Abul Kalam Azad was found guilty in absentia of eight charges of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death.

However, human rights groups have said the tribunal falls short of international standards.

With Jamaat threatening more protests, there are increasing concerns over political stability in the country, our correspondent says.