Bangladesh deploys troops to avoid violence
Iran Press TV
Thu Aug 1, 2013 4:31PM GMT
Authorities have stepped up security across Bangladesh after a controversial court verdict flared up political tensions across the South Asian country.
A large number of troops were deployed in front of the High Court and other government buildings in the capital Dhaka on Thursday in a bid to quell any protests a day after the High Court declared the country's largest Islamic party illegal.
The ruling was issued after a 2009 petition by a secular organization claim that Jamaat-e-Islami's charter violated the constitution.
The court ruling could spark fresh protests in the country. Nationwide demonstrations were held in February after a local court convicted six leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami Party for war crimes back in 1971.
The opposition accuses the government of seeking to intimidate them by trying their leaders for alleged war crimes committed more than 40 years ago.
People have taken to the streets of Dhaka and some other cities on many occasions to protest against controversial trials of opposition activists and leaders.
The Human Rights Watch has said that Bangladeshi security forces have killed at least 150 protesters over the past six months
The mainstream opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and several Islamic groups have staged nationwide strikes on several occasions to strongly condemn the 'mass killing' of protesters in a crackdown by security forces over the past few months.
Bangladesh has experienced a turbulent history marred by military coups, bloody turmoil and natural catastrophes.
JR/KA
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