7 get death in Holey Artisan terror attack case

A Dhaka court has sentenced seven people to death in the case filed over the horrific militant attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery at Gulshan in the capital that left 22 people killed on July 1, 2016.

Judge Md Majibur Rahman of Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal in Dhaka pronounced the verdict in presence of all the eight accused on Wednesday, almost three and a half years after the grisly militant attack.

The convicts are: Aslam Hossain, alias Rash, one of the planners, Jahangir Alam, alias Rajib Gandhi, recruiter of the café attackers, Abdus Sabur Khan, alias Sohel Mahfuz, supplier of grenades; Hadisur Rahman Sagor, suppliers of arms, and Rakibul Hasan Rigan, a so-called religious trainer, Shariful Islam Khaled and Mamunur Rashid Ripon.

Meanwhile, Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan was acquitted as charges brought against him could not be proved.

Earlier on November 17, the tribunal set the date of verdict today after concluding argument in the case that was being watched across the world due to the deadly nature of the attack carried out by a group of well-educated young radicals.

A number of five armed militants stormed the upscale eatery in the diplomatic zone on July 1, 2016 and held the diners hostage before killing 20 of them—three Bangladeshis, seven Japanese, nine Italians and one Indian national.

Two police officials were also killed during the 12-hour standoff while trying to save the hostages. Later, five militants were killed in an army commando operation.

Dhaka/Mamun Khan/AKA