Thousands protest in Bangladesh after jailed Islamist leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee dies
- Delwar Hossain Sayedee, vice-president of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party, died in a prison hospital early on Monday evening. He was 83.
- Sayedee’s death comes just over a decade since his conviction by a controversial war crimes court triggered the deadliest political violence in the country’s history
Thousands of furious protesters chanting anti-government slogans marched in Bangladesh on Monday hours after a powerful jailed Islamist opposition leader died of a heart attack aged 83, officials said.
Delwar Hossain Sayedee, vice-president of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party, died in a prison hospital early on Monday evening, just over a decade since his conviction by a controversial war crimes court triggered the deadliest political violence in the country’s history.
Thousands of mourners and supporters of Sayedee rallied outside the hospital after his death, chanting “Allahu akbar”, or “God is greatest”, with large numbers of police deployed.
“We won’t let the blood of Sayedee go in vain”, supporters shouted, with many blaming the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which is preparing for key general elections slated for January.
Hospital authorities said Sayedee was admitted to the health facility after suffering a heart attack in Kashimpur Prison outside the capital Dhaka on Sunday.
“He faced another heart attack today [Monday] at 6.45pm and died at 8.40pm,” hospital director Brigadier General Rezaur Rahman told AFP, adding he had had five stents inserted into his arteries.