Court accepts Holey Artisan attack charge sheet, acquits Hasnat

Staff Correspondent: The Anti-terrorism Special Tribunal has accepted charges against eight persons in the Holey Artisan attack case.

The court has also cleared Hasnat Karim of the charges.

Mujibur Rahamn, Judge of Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal in Dhaka, passed the order on Wednesday.

On July 23, police pressed charges against eight of the 21 militants who they say wanted to destabilise Bangladesh by initiating the country’s worst-ever terror incident over two years ago.

Six of the accused were produced before the court during the hearing. They are Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, Rashedul Islam alias Rash, Sohel Mahfuz alias Hatkata Mahfuz, Rakibul Islam Reagan, Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan, and Hadisur Rahman Sagor.

Two others – Shariful Islam Khalid and Mamunur Rashid Ripon – are absconding. The court has issued arrest warrants for them.

It ordered Gulshan police to inform the court on August 16 about the progress on the arrest.

Hasnat Karim was rescued along with 12 others during the commando operation at the Holey Artisan Bakery in the city's Gulshan area on 2 July 2016 following a 12-hour hostage standoff.

Twenty two people, including nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi-born American and two Bangladeshis, were killed in the terror attack on the restaurant on 1 July 2016.

risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 8, 2018/Mamun Khan/Mukul