World

Opposition leader executed by Bangladesh for war crimes

07:21 am on 13 December 2013

Bangladesh has executed opposition leader Abdul Quader Mollah for war crimes committed in 1971.

Abdul Quader Molla seen inside the central jail in Dhaka in February. Photo: AFP (file)

Mollah, 64, was hanged at Dhaka Central Jail on Thursday. He was assistant secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami party.

Security was tight for the execution which took place at 10.01pm.

The Supreme Court in September rejected a plea by Mullah for a review of his sentence.

He is the first of seven opposition leaders sentenced to be executed as a result of a series of verdicts handed down by a special tribunal set up to investigate war crimes committed during the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan.