Daccanomics
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh leader and convicted war criminal, Delwar Hossain Sayedee has passed away. This has caused anger among his supporters, and protesters are taking to the streets, shouting slogans against the government.
Sayedee was a prominent figure and the vice president of Bangladesh’s opposition party, Jamaat-e-Islami. He died in a prison hospital on Monday evening. His death comes more than ten years after he was convicted by a war crimes court, which led to significant political unrest in the country.
Following his death, his supporters gathered outside the hospital, shouting “Allahu akbar” (God is great). Police were present to manage the crowd.
Clashes happened between Jamaat-e-Islami supporters and police in different places resulting in injuries and arrests.
In a clash with the police in Chakaria, one person died and 13 others were injured. Some vehicles, including police vans, were damaged during the clash.
The police say they didn’t use bullets but tear gas and batons to control the situation. They are investigating how the man died.
Sayedee had health concerns for some time and had been admitted to the hospital previously due to a heart attack. He had undergone medical procedures, including having stents inserted into his arteries.
Jamaat-e-Islami announced his death on their Facebook page, criticizing the authorities for not providing proper treatment in prison.
He was sentenced to death in 2013 for various charges, including murder, rape, and persecution of Hindus. This led to widespread protests by his supporters, resulting in casualties and arrests. In 2014, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh ruled that he should spend the rest of his life in jail for his involvement in crimes during the 1971 liberation war with Pakistan.
Delwar Hossain Sayedee gained popularity in the 1980s through his preaching in prominent mosques. He played a significant role in transforming Jamaat-e-Islami into a major political force in the country, even attracting non-supporters to his speeches.
