Bangladesh executes 5 leaders of 1975 military coup

Bangladesh executes 5 coup leaders

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Television reports say five former soldiers sentenced to death in the 1975 killing of Bangladesh’s independence leader in a military coup have been executed.

Private TV stations ATN Bangla and Desh TV say the execution happened early Thursday inside Dhaka Central Jail.

Officials were not immediately available for comment.

The five men had been sentenced to death in the killing of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Their plea to commute the penalty was rejected by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Television reports say two former soldiers sentenced to death in the 1975 killing of Bangladesh’s independence leader in a military coup have been executed.

Private TV stations ATN Bangla and Desh TV say the execution happened early Thursday inside Dhaka Central Jail.

Officials were not immediately available for comment.

The two men were among the five former soldiers who had been sentenced to death in the killing of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Their plea to commute the penalty was rejected by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.