Death penalty upheld for Mufti Hannan in full verdict

Staff Correspondent: The High Court on Thursday published full verdicr uphelding death sentences for three militants of banned outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad Islam (HuJI) including its chief Mufti Hannan over the attack on former UK envoy to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury in 2004.

The full copy of the verdict has been published today after signature of Justice M. Enayetur Rahim and. Justice Amir Hossain.

Deputy Attorney General Sheikh Moniruzzaman Kabir told risingbd.com that there is no bar to execute the order after full verdict.

The bench also upheld the life imprisonment for two other Huji militants -- Muhibullah alias Muhibur Rahman alias Ovi and Mufti Main Uddin alias Abu Zandal -- in this case.

In the attack on May 21, 2004 three people were killed at Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine in Sylhet. About 50 others were injured. The Bangladesh-origin envoy, barely 18 days into his new assignment, suffered minor leg injuries in the grenade explosion after Friday prayers.

Assistant Sub-inspector Kamal Uddin died on the spot and constables Rubel Ahmed and Habil Miah died from their wounds in a hospital.

Two cases -one for murder and another for explosive substances- were filed in connection with the attack. Sylhet`s Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Shamim Md Afzal Roy gave verdict in the second case filed (for murder) on December 23, 2008.

risingbd/Dhaka/Apr 28, 2016/Mehedi/Nasim