The Supreme Court in Bangladesh has upheld the death penalty against an Islamist leader for atrocities during the country’s war of independence from Pakistan.

Mohammad Kamaruzzaman of the Jamaat-e-Islami party was found guilty last year of genocide and torture of civilians during the 1971 conflict.

Two other Jamaat leaders have also received the death sentence after hearings over the past week.

Bangladesh opened inquiries into war crimes in 2010, and the government has been facing growing demonstrations with calls for harsh penalties.

Veterans of the war were among hundreds who gathered outside the court and cheered when the recent verdict was announced.

An estimated three million people died in the war between Pakistani forces and Bangladeshi nationalists backed by India.