Bangladesh set to hang opposition leaders within days

A file picture taken on July 17, 2013 shows Secretary General of Jamaat e Islam, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid (left) waving from a police vehicle as he is transported to the central jail after a court verdict in Dhaka. -AFP

DHAKA: Two key Bangladesh opposition leaders are set to be hanged within days after losing final appeals to overturn their death sentences, the justice minister said Friday, as authorities completed formalities for their execution.

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the appeals of Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, upholding the death sentence for crimes including genocide committed during the 1971 independence war with Pakistan.