State to appeal against acquittal of Boro Mizan

The government will file an appeal petition with the High Court (HC) against the trial court judgement acquitting Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan in a case filed over Holey Artisan Bakery terror attack in the capital’s Gulshan.

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

In the verdict, seven were sentenced death penalty while Boro Mizan was acquitted as charges brought against him were not proved.

State lawyer Abdullah said, ‘We are happy with the judgement. But an accused was acquitted in the verdict. We will appeal against him with the High Court.”

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.

Mentionable, Boro Mizan, hailed from Hazarbighi of Chanpur under Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj, was arrested from the capital’s Darus Salam area on November 2, 2016.

Allegation of supplying explosive substances in the terror attack was brought against him in the charge sheet.

Mizan, however, said before the court, “He is a fish trader. He was charged in the case just for matching his name.

Dhaka/Mamun/AKA