BNP leader and former minister Abdul Aleem, convicted and sentenced to prison until death for his crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation, died at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital on Saturday.
Aleem was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit of the BSMMU from the prison cell of the Dhaka central jail on August 26 following deterioration of his health condition due to lung cancer, said jail super Farman Ali.
The first namaj-e-janaza for Abdul Aleem is scheduled to be held at Banani Mosque in the capital after Magrib prayers on Saturday.
He will be buried at his family graveyard in Joypurhat.
On October 9, 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 convicted Abdul Aleem, a cabinet member of late president Ziaur Rahman,and sentenced to prison until death for his crimes against humanity, including genocide, arson attack and looting, during the Liberation War in 1971.
The tribunal sentenced Aleem to jail term unto death for killing 370 Hindus in Karai Kadipur, Chawkpara, Sonapara, Palpara and Munshipara of Joypurhat district on April 26, killing 10 Hindus of Uttar Hatsahar and Harunja Hat of Khetlal, Joypurhat towards the end of May, killing 26 youths at Joypurhat College in late June and three freedom fighters at Khanjanpur Khuthibari in October 1971.
Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami leader AKM Yusuf, charged with crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War, died on February 9, this year.