Jamaat calls countrywide 24-hr hartal Thursday, Sunday

Jamaat-e-Islami has called countrywide 24-hour hartal on Thursday and Sunday demanding the release of its detained leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee, who has been jailed by the Supreme Court unto death for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. In a statement, Jamaat-e-Islami said they will enforce the two-phase shutdown across the country — from 6 am Thursday to 6 am Friday and from 6 am Sunday to 6 am Monday. The party will also hold ‘doa’ programme on Friday and stage demonstration on Saturday as part their protest against the verdict and demanding review of Sayeedee’s punishment in the war crimes case. The Supreme Court on Wednesday morning commuted Sayedee’s death sentence handed down earlier by the International Crimes Tribunal-1 and jailed him unto death for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, flanked by four other members of the five-member Appellate Division bench of the Supreme Court, pronounced the final judgment in the crowded courtroom at 10.06 am. The long-pending judgment was pronounced amid tight security in and around the court. — UNB, Dhaka.