Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called a 24-hour countrywide hartal for Thursday protesting the execution of its Ameer and war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami.

Terming it as a ‘planned killing’ by the government, the party published a statement in their website within one hour after the hanging of 71-year-old Jamaat leader in Dhaka Central Jail at 12:10am. The statement said acting Ameer of Jamaat Mokbul Ahmed has announced three days’ programme, including the 24-hour countrywide hartal for Thursday.

He was hanged by the rope inside Dhaka Central Jail at 11:55pm, Jahangir Kabir, superintendent of the prison, said. The body was taken down from the noose at 12:10am.

Acting Inspector General (Prisons) Col Iqbal Hasan, Civil Surgeon Abdul Malek Mridha, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Mohammad Salauddin and Jail Jahangir Kabir were present during the execution.

Escorted by law enforcers, a hearse carrying the body of executed war criminal started for his village home at Manmathpur in Santhia upazila of Pabna around 1:31 am. He will be buried at his village graveyard.