Defence lawyer angry, frustrated

Advocate Delwar Hossain, one of the counsels of the death-row convicts, said the verdict in the case of horrific terrorist attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan is not satisfactory.

He told reporters, "We are angry and frustrated with the verdict. We have repeatedly told the court that the accused will receive justice from the witnesses presented by the state. But today we are unhappy with the judgement delivered by the court. We will file appeal with the High Court against this verdict. ” 

A Dhaka court has sentenced seven people to death for their involvement in the horrific militant attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery at Gulshan in the capital that left 22 people dead.

Judge Md Majibur Rahman of Dhaka Anti-terrorism Special Tribunal pronounced the verdict on Wednesday noon in presence of the accused in the crowded courtroom.

Earlier the jail authorities brought the eight to the court at around 10.15 am from Keraniganj Central Jail and kept them in judge court lockup with extra security in and around the court premises. They were taken to the courtroom at around 11.50 am.

The seven death-row-convicts are – Jahangir Hossain alias Rajib Gandhi, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Rashedul Islam alias Aslam Hossain alias Rash, Abdus Sabur Khan alias Sohel Mahfuz, Hadisur Rahman Sagar, Shariful Islam and Mamunur Rashid.

The tribunal acquitted Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan from the charge framed under section 6 (2) (a) of Anti-Terrorism Act 2009.

The court ordered as saying, “Let them be hanged by the neck till they are dead.”

The tribunal also fined the convicts Tk50,000 each.

The tribunal in its observation said Tamim Chowdhury was the mastermind behind the attack and he coordinated the whole incident.

“Members of neo-JMB carried out the monstrous attack to create fear among the people and draw the attention of international militant organization IS,” the court said.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has intensified its security measures ahead of the verdict in the Holey Artisan attack.

In the incident that took place on July 1, 2016, militants killed 20 innocent people, most of them foreigners. 

Two police officials - ASP Rabiul Karim and OC Salahuddin Khan - valiantly laid down their lives while trying to save people there. 

Later, five militants - Rohan Ibn Imtiaz, Mir Sameh Mobassher, Nibras Islam, Shafikul Islam alias Uzzal and Khairul Islam alias Payel - were killed in a commando operation led by army personnel.

Police filed the case under the anti-terror act with Gulshan Police Station. 

The trial was initiated on November 26, 2018, by framing charges against the eight accused on July 23, 2018.

On November 17, Judge of the Dhaka Anti-terrorism Special Tribunal Mohammad Mujibur Rahman set November 27 for delivering its verdict in the sensational case after concluding the law-point argument of the defence counsel.

A total of 113 out of 211 witnesses have testified in the case.