Bangladesh Sentences American and Briton to Death for War Crimes

Men convicted in absentia for crimes committed during 1971 war of independence

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Suvra Kanti Das / AP

A Bangladeshi boy shouts slogans as he joins a rally with activists demanding maximum penalty for war criminals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013.

A Bangladeshi war-crimes tribunal handling cases from the country’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan has sentenced a U.K. citizen and an American to death.

The sentences were handed out on Sunday, after the two men, who left Bangladesh after the conflict, were convicted in absentia, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Shahidur Rahman, a prosecutor at the tribunal, said, “We hope the government will intensify international efforts to bring the two convicted criminals to Bangladesh to face justice.”

The trials have added to an increased polarization of the country ahead of its January national elections.

[WSJ]