Islamists take aim at Bangladesh bloggers

  • 11 years ago
Tensions are high in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as Islamists take to the streets.

They are protesting against prominent liberal bloggers, who accuse Islamist groups of failing to support Bangladesh during the country's 1971 independence war.

What's lighted the tinderbox is a tribunal presently looking into alleged war crimes committed by members of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami.

The life sentence of a Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah is not enough for many Bangladeshis, who've held their own mass demonstrations since early February to demand the death penalty for war crimes.

Sunday's protest was a counter blast on behalf of Islamists, who hold huge sway in Bangladesh politics.

One blogger was recently killed outside his home as pressure between the two sides mounts.

Bangladesh became a part of Pakistan after British rule ended in 1947, but broke away with the help of India more than 40 years ago.