DHAKA (AFP) - A Bangladesh court on Tuesday convicted a leading opposition politician of war crimes, the first lawmaker found guilty of atrocities committed during the 1971 war of independence.

Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, an influential lawmaker from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, as convicted of genocide by the International Crimes Tribunal, private Somoy TV said.

Chowdhury, a six-time elected member of parliament, faces the death penalty when he is sentenced by the much-criticised tribunal later on Tuesday.

Since January the court has convicted six Islamists for crimes committed during the 1971 war, and Chowdhury is the first MP.