2 Bangladesh opposition leaders hanged

Pakistan ‘deeply disturbed’ Journo shot after funeral

Bangladesh on Sunday hanged two top Opposition leaders for war crimes during the independence conflict with Pakistan and strengthened security nationwide over fears the executions could spark fresh unrest.

Thousands of extra police personnel and border guards were deployed in Dhaka and other major cities and towns on the eve of a general strike on Monday called to protest against the executions.

Supporters of the ruling Awami League greeted the executions of Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury by holding street parties and doling out sweets to children.

Bangladesh has been roiled by violence for much of the last three years since a tribunal began delivering its verdicts on Opposition figures accused of orchestrating massacres during the 1971 war.

Islamabad branded the tribunal’s trials flawed, and called for reconciliation over the war which pitted Pakistani forces and allied militias against Bangladeshi freedom fighters.

“Pakistan is deeply disturbed at this development,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said in reaction to the executions.A total of 18 people have been convicted but only two had been sent to the gallows before Mujahid and Chowdhury were hanged at Dhaka’s Central Prison shortly before 1 am.

While the other three were members of the largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Chowd-hury was from the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

The BNP accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of presiding over a politically-motivated killing.A television journalist suffered minor injuries after being shot in the town of Raojan hours after Chowdhury’s burial there, private television Channel 24 said. A local police chief said officers were checking if the incident was connected to the executions.