Aug 17 series bomb blast: 5 JMB men get 12-yr jail for Khilkhet explosion

A special tribunal in Dhaka today sentenced five JMB members to 12 years’ rigorous imprisonment in connection with a blast in Dhaka’s Khilkhet area as part of the series bomb blast in 63 districts of the country on August 17, 2005.

Judge Md Al Mamun of Special Tribunal-2 handed down the sentence in presence of three convicts -- Abdullah Al Sohain, Abdur Rahman Mashuk, Nurul Islam alias Uzzal.

Two other convicts Habibur Rahman Habib, Md Musa alias Mostafizur Rahman are absconding.

The court also fines them Tk 30,000 each in default of which they will have to serve six more months in jail.

The court ordered that the punishment of the fugitives will be effective from the day of their arrest or surrender.

The banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) on August 17, 2005 simultaneously blasted bombs in 63 districts of the country.

Around 500 bombs went off at 300 locations in the 63 districts. The bombs exploded within half an hour. The JMB claimed responsibility for the blasts.

The blast took place near an over-bridge in Khilkhet area around 8:30am on August 17, 2005. A case was filed after the blast on that very day in this connection.

The charge sheet of the case was submitted on November 2, 2005.

A total of 19 witnesses testified against the convicts.