A death-row convict in the Gulshan café attack came out of court donning a black clap with the Islamic State insignia sparking criticism.
On Wednesday (Nov 27), Dhaka Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal Judge Md Mujibur Rahman sentenced seven militants to death over the worst terror attack in the diplomatic enclave of Gulshan three-and-half years ago.
Immediately after the verdict was delivered the convicts, all of whom were present screamed: “Allahu Akbar….our victory is near."
The convicts are: Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Rashedul Islam alias Rash, Sohel Mahfuz, Hadisur Rahman Sagar, Shahidul Islam Khaled and Mamunur Rashid Ripon.
Mizanur Rahman who had been charged with delivering arms and explosives used in the attack has been acquitted as the charges against him could not be proven.
Rakibul Hasan Regan came out donning the IS cap sparking criticisms about the jail authorities.
Prosecutor Abu Abdullah expressed his outrage over the incident saying, “I was flabbergasted. The jail authorities must take responsibility for this.”
Saying that there should be a probe over it, he added that the convicts’ behaviour in the court was unusual.
Meanwhile, convict Rajib Gandhi said that they did nothing wrong by carrying out the attack and a “khilafat will be established in this country one day.”
On the night of Jul 1, 2016, a group of five young men stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant at the upscale neighbourhood of Gulshan and taking the people inside them hostage.
Two police officers died after being injured in grenade attacks carried out by the attackers when they approached the eatery.
The militants killed twenty diners that included Italian, Japanese, Indian and Bangladeshi citizens and two police officers throughout the night.
After a 12-hour siege, army commandoes stormed the restaurant on Jul 2 morning and rescued 13 hostages.
The five Neo-JMB operatives Nibras Islam, Mir Sabeh Mubashir, Rohan Imtiaz, Khairul Islam Payel and Shafiqul Islam Uzzal—-were killed in the commando operation.
Two years after the attack, on Jul 23 2018, Dhaka metro police's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit identified 21 suspects connected to the attack and submitted charges against the eight living suspects while eight others were killed in militant raids.
Middle East-based terror group Islamic State had reportedly claimed credit for the attack but the government and security officials have blamed Neo-JMB, an offshoot of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh for the deadly siege.
According to the charge sheet, neo-JMB militants had planned the attack for six months. Their intention was to create ‘unrest’ in Bangladesh and transform it into a ‘terrorist state’.
The trial began on Nov 26 last year with the indictment of the eight suspects.
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