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Bangla violence continues, toll 46

By The Assam Tribune

DHAKA, March 1 � Violence continued unabated in Bangladesh today as at least 46 people were killed in clashes that erupted after a top leader of fundamentalist Jamaat-e- Islami was handed down death penalty for �crimes against humanity� during the 1971 liberation war, reports PTI.

The violence broke out after 73-year-old Delwar Hossain Sayedee, vice-president of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), was sentenced to death by International Crimes Tribunal.

At least 42 people were killed yesterday in rioting triggered by the death sentence to Sayedee, who was found guilty of eight counts out of 20, involving rape, mass killings and atrocities during the 1971 freedom war against Pakistan.

Fresh violence erupted today killing three people in Gaibandha and Chapainawabganj districts and one policeman succumbed to his wounds sustained in clashes yesterday.

Officials said that law enforcement agencies appeared to be the prime target of the right-wing JI activists.

The situation prompted local authorities to enforce ban on gathering of more than four people under section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code in troubled areas, five northwestern and one southwestern district, said to be JI strongholds.

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