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Bangladesh: 1971 war crimes pair sentenced by tribunal

TWO MEN were convicted yesterday for their part in the massacre of hundreds of people during Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971.

Khan Akram Hossain was jailed for life and Sheikh Sirajul Islam sentenced to die by war crimes tribunal head M Enayetur Rahim in a packed court in the capital Dhaka.

The men faced charges including killing up to 700 civilians in the south-western district of Bagerhat. They were also found guilty of killing up to 50 minority Hindus in one village in a separate incident.

Bangladesh says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed 3 million people and raped 200,000 women during the war.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up the tribunal in 2010 to punish collaborators.

At least 17 people, mostly from the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party, have so far been sentenced to death or life in prison. Two party leaders have been executed.

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