Coup plotters lose appeal against death sentences in 1975 killing of Bangladeshi leader

Bangladesh court upholds death sentences for coup

DHAKA, Bangladesh — A government attorney says the Supreme Court has rejected final appeals by five former soldiers sentenced to death in the 1975 killing of the country’s independence leader in a military coup.

Attorney Anisul Haq says a five-member jury dismissed the men’s plea to commute the penalty in a packed courtroom in capital Dhaka.

In 1998, a Dhaka court sentenced the men to death for the killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The five petitioned the Supreme Court to commute their sentences.

Seven others who were also convicted are fugitives abroad.