HC to deliver verdict in Holey Artisan Attack case Oct 30

The High Court will deliver its verdict on the Holey Artisan Bakery Attack case on October 30.

The bench of Justice Shahidul Karim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman on October 11 fixed October 30 for delivering the verdict after concluding the hearing of the death reference and appeals in the case, Deputy Attorney General Bashir Ahmed and defence lawyer Ariful Islam told The Daily Star today.

According to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), death penalties ordered by the lower court are examined by the HC before the punishment is confirmed.

During the hearing, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin prayed to the HC to confirm the death penalty for the convicts while the defence lawyer urged the court to commute the punishment of the convicted accused.

On July 1, 2016, five militants with firearms, machetes, and grenades stormed the upscale eatery in the diplomatic zone in Gulshan and held the diners hostage before killing three Bangladeshis, seven Japanese, nine Italians, and one Indian national.

The militants were killed during a rescue operation by army commandos. Two police officials and a chef of the café were also killed during the 12-hour standoff. An injured employee of the restaurant died later.

On November 27, 2019, the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal in Dhaka convicted and sentenced seven militants to death for their involvement in the attack, terming it a disgraceful attack aimed at assassinating the non-communal character of Bangladesh.

The convicts are Jahangir Hossain, Aslam Hossain Rash, Hadisur Rahman, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Md Abdus Sabur Khan, Shariful Islam Khaled, and Mamunur Rashid Ripon.

The tribunal also acquitted one accused as it found him not guilty.

The convicts then filed separate appeals with the HC challenging the tribunal verdict.