On Tuesday, approximately 50,000 people gathered to attend the funeral of Delwar Hossain Sayedee, an influential Islamist leader in Bangladesh. Sayedee, 83, was serving a prison sentence for war crimes, including rape, murder, and the persecution of Hindu Bangladeshis during the country's war for independence in 1971.

His death, resulting from a heart attack in a prison outside Dhaka, triggered violent anti-government protests. The funeral took place under heavy police security in Sayedee's hometown in the coastal Pirojpur district. Despite the large crowd, the burial proceeded without incident.

However, in other parts of the country, a clash between police and a group attempting to hold a memorial ceremony for Sayedee resulted in one person's death and several injuries. Sayedee was the vice president of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party, an Islamist political group with a significant following, despite being banned for much of its history. The party has remained controversial due to its support for Bangladesh's union with Pakistan during the country's brutal 1971 liberation war.

Sayedee gained prominence in the 1980s through his preaching in some of the nation's top mosques. His conviction by a war crimes tribunal a decade ago sparked the deadliest protests in Bangladesh's history, with over 100 people killed in subsequent clashes.

Criticized by rights groups for procedural shortcomings, the tribunal's decision led to the arrest of tens of thousands of Jamaat supporters in a government crackdown. News of Sayedee's death mobilized thousands of his party's supporters, who took to the streets to chant anti-government slogans.

Many condemned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government, leading up to the upcoming general election in January. To maintain control, the police dispersed the protests using rubber bullets and tear gas. Additionally, the police force rejected Jamaat's application to hold a post-funeral prayer in the capital, Dhaka.