Dhaka – The Supreme Court upheld the death penalty handed down to Mufti Abdul Hannan, leader of banned militant organisation Harkat-ul-Jihad, and two others in a case filed over the grenade attack on ex-British envoy to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury in 2004.
The apex court rejected the appeal filed by Mufti Hannan and Sharif Shahedul Alam alias Bipul seeking a review of the High Court verdict that upheld their death sentence, said Deputy Attorney General Bashir Ahmed.
The condemned convicts can file a review petition within 30 days after getting the copy of the verdict, he added.A four-member bench, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, passed the order.
On December 6, the bench fixed today (Wednesday) for delivering the verdict after a hearing on the appeal.
On February 11 last, a High Court bench, comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain, delivered the verdict upholding the death sentence of three of the accused — Mufti Abdul Hannan, Sharif Shahedul Alam and Delwar Hossain alias Ripon — and life imprisonment of two others — Mufti Hannan’s brother Mohibullah and Mufti Moinuddin — handed down by the lower court.
Following the verdict, Mufti Hannan and Sharif Shahedul Alam alias Bipul, filed the an appeal with the Appellate Division bench concerned on July 14 last.
Although Ripon did not file any appeal petition, the court itself appointed a lawyer on behalf of him to ensure justice for a condemned convict.
On November 30, the Supreme Court started hearing on the appeal.
Anwar Choudhury and 51 others were injured while three, including two police officials, were killed in a grenade attack at Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) shrine in Sylhet on May 21, 2004.
Later, two cases — one for murder and another under the Explosive Act — were filed in connection with the grenade attack.
After investigation into the case, charges were framed against four people, including Mufti Hannan, on July 31, 2007.
In the murder case, the Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal of Sylhet on December 23, 2008, awarded death sentence to Huji leaders Hannan, Sharif Shahedul Alam Bipul and Delwar Hossain Ripon while Mufti Muhibur Rahman (Hannan’s brother) and Mufti Mainuddin were awarded life term, and fined Tk 10,000 each. -UNB
