Mollah, 66, was the JeI’s assistant general secretary. He was convicted of war crime charges, including murder and rape, related to the Pakistani army’s repression of the 1971 mass uprising that led to the succession of East Pakistan and formation of Bangladesh.

The JeI collaborated with the army’s brutal operations, which resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of civilians, the widespread rape of women and destruction of property. More than 10 million refugees fled to India.   

Last year, a High Court banned the JeI from taking part in elections on the grounds that it contravened the country’s constitution by acknowledging “the absolute power of God.” The government supported the case brought by the Tariqat Federation, itself a religious-based organisation for the Sufi Islamic sect.

Mollah was convicted in February by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)—a domestic Bangladeshi court set up in 2010 after the Awami League won the 2008 election.  

He was initially sentenced to life imprisonment. This provoked protests by the largely middle-class Shahbagh movement in Dhaka, calling for the death penalty. The government used the demonstrations to justify amending the tribunal law to allow the prosecution to appeal the verdict. On appeal, the Supreme Court reversed the life sentence and imposed the death penalty on Mollah.

In addition to Mollah, the “international” tribunals have convicted 10 people, of whom eight have been sentenced to death. Another five accused are awaiting verdicts.

Mollah’s execution was hailed in the mainstream media as well as by all those associated with the Shahbagh movement. The JeI is undoubtedly a reactionary Islamist organisation that has used violence against opponents.  

Mollah’s hanging sparked fresh violence across Bangladesh. At least 21 people were killed during protests, and hundreds have been arrested.

The execution took place in the midst of political turmoil leading up to the January 5 election. The opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and its allies, including the JeI, have held six major protests since October, demanding the Awami League hand over power to a caretaker government. Another protest is due to start today.  

The government amended the constitution that called for the appointment of a caretaker government during an election period. In doing so, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina exploited the mass resentment towards the previous military-controlled caretaker government that had postponed the election for two years.

The election commission has called on the government to deploy 50,000 army personnel from December 26 to January 9 to protect the electoral process.