Bangladesh executed the leader of the banned group Jamaat-e-Islami, a 73-year-old Rahman Nizami for war crimes committed during the war in 1971, says the state news Agency of Bangladesh.

73-year-old Rahman Nizami was hanged at the Central jail in Dhaka after the high court dismissed the appeal. He was found guilty and sentenced to death in 2014 for the genocide, rape and mass killing during the conflict.

According to some estimates 1 to 3 million people died as a result of a nine-month war. Jamaat-e-Islami strongly opposed the independence of East Pakistan and the party was banned soon after independence Bangladesh.

While his hanging was met with public celebration in Dhaka - cheering crowds gathered outside the prison, throwing shoes, went with posters with the face of Nizami - people staged a protest, alleging that the verdict was unfair.

According to information, the court limited the number of witnesses for Nizami. It was eventually only allowed 4 witnesses to testify on his behalf.

"Human rights watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as an irreversible, degrading, and cruel punishment," said brad Adams, Director of HRW Asia. "This is particularly problematic when there are questions about the procedure, if they comply with fair trial standards".
sections: Politics, World News, Accidents, Accidents