Islamists fight cops for second day
Wednesday 06 February 2013
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EmailPolice and protesters clashed again today after Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah was jailed for atrocities carried out during the country's 1971 independence war.
At least 10 people were hurt today in clashes outside Dhaka, following the killing of four people across the country on Tuesday.
More than 20 small bombs exploded in the north today, but no-one was reported injured.
Jamaat-e-Islami had ordered a nationwide general strike on Tuesday which continued today, shutting down schools and shops, to protest against the conviction and life sentence handed down to Mr Mollah.
Despite tight security in Dhaka, TV footage showed protesters lobbing stones at police.
Officers fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse protesters in the Narayanganj area near Dhaka, hurting at least 10 people.
Mr Mollah and five other Jamaat leaders had been charged with committing atrocities during the nine-month independence war with Pakistan.
Former party member Abul Kalam Azad was sentenced to death last month.
Human rights groups have questioned the tribunals' conduct, including the disappearance of a defence witness, who was about to testify, from just outside the courthouse gate.
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