Bangladesh bans funeral prayers for war criminals in Dhaka

Dhaka, Nov 26: Bangladesh has said it will not allow funeral prayers for any of the war criminals, sentenced to death in the country's 1971 war of independence against Pakistan, to be held in capital Dhaka.

The country's Liberation War Affairs Minister Muzammel Hoque said yesterday that no more Namaj-e-Janaza of any 1971 war criminal will be allowed to be held in Dhaka. "Many freedom fighters sacrificed their lives during the war of independence. No Namaaz-e-Janaza were held even for one per cent of them," Hoque said while speaking at the "Bijoy Mela" — a victory fair, celebrating Bangladesh's independence.

"Animals ate their decomposing corpses. That's why no more Janazas of war criminals after their execution will be allowed in Dhaka," he was quoted as saying by the bdnews24.com. A total of 11 people have been sentenced to death for committing crimes against humanity while siding with Pakistani troops during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War, since the war crimes trials were initiated in 2010.

However, till now, only one of them has been executed following the Supreme Court's rejection of his review petition after it upheld the tribunal verdict following the appeal hearing.

PTI