The country’s war crimes tribunal sentenced 91-year-old Ghulam Azam, former head of the Jaamat-e-Islami, to life in prison for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1971 war for independence from Pakistan. In its ruling, the court called Jaamat a “criminal organization” and suggested that “no such anti-liberation people should be allowed to sit at the helm of executives of the government, social or political parties, including government and non-government organisations.” Jamaat, the country’s main Islamist party, called a daylong strike, and supporters clashed with police in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Comilla, Bagerhat, and Barishal.
