Family meets Nizami in prison

Family members have met Motiur Rahman Nizami behind the bars today, after a final appeal by the leader of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party against a death penalty for involvement in a 1971 liberation war has been rejected yesterday, his lawyers said, clearing the way for his hanging.

 

His wife, two sons with theirs wives and daughter meet him at the Kashimpur prison, Gazipur on Friday around 11 am.

 

The 73-year-old, who was also given life sentences for four other war crimes convictions, has exhausted all legal options and only a presidential pardon could now save him.

 

Jamaat called a 24-nationwide strike for Sunday in a response published on its website.

 

The Supreme Court in January upheld the death penalty for Nizami on convictions of genocide, rape and orchestrating the massacre of top intellectuals during the war.