Huji chief Hannan to seek presidential mercy

Huji chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, who got final verdict of death penalty by the Supreme Court in a case filed for the grenade attack on the then UK envoy in Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury in 2004, would file mercy petition to the president Abdul Hamid.

Mizanur Rahman, Senior Jail Super of Kashimpur High Security Jail, confirmed the matter to the Jagonews24.com on Wednesday.

He said, “The copy of final verdict of the death-row convicts Mufti Hannan and his associate Sharif Shahedul Karim has reached Kashimpur Central Jail at 12pm. Later the copy of the verdict was read out to Mufti Hannan and Shahedul.”

On Tuesday, the SC released its full verdict that upheld its order confirming the death penalties of three Huji militants, including Mufti Hannan.

In 2004, then UK envoy Anwar Chowdhury and 70 others were injured in the attack at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet. Three people, including a police official, were killed.

On December 23, 2008, the Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced Mufti Hannan, Bipul and Ripon to death. Two other members of the banned militant outfit were sentenced to life in jail. They are Muhibullah alias Muhibur Rahman alias Ovi and Mufti Main Uddin alias Abu Zandal.

On February 11 last year, the HC confirmed the capital punishment for the three and upheld the life sentences of Ovi and Abu Zandal.

On December 7 last year, the SC upheld the death penalties of Hannan, Bipul and Ripon.
The trio filed petitions for reviews on February 23 this year.