Dhaka – The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Mufti Abdul Hannan, a leader of the banned militant organisation Harkat-ul-Jihad and a death row convict, and four others to submit a concise statement by two weeks in a case filed over the grenade attack on ex-British envoy to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury in 2004. A four-member bench, headed by Chief Justice S K Sinha, passed the order.
Additional Attorney General Murad Reza represented the state during hearing. Earlier on Monday, the SC fixed today (Tuesday) to hear on appeal filed by the accused.On February 11 this year, 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 – and life imprisonment of two others — Mufti Hannan’s brother Mohibullah and Mufti Moinuddin – handed down by the lower court.
On May 21, 2004, Anwar Choudhury, the then deputy commissioner of Sylhet and 50 others were injured while three, including two police officials, were killed in a grenade attack at Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) shrine in Sylhet.
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.
Mufti Muhibur Rahman (Hannan’s brother) and Mufti Mainuddin were awarded life term, and fined Tk 10,000 each. – UNB
