Holey Artisan attack: State seeks death against 8 accused

The prosecution hopes court will give capital punishment to eight accused in the verdict of Holey Artisan Café attack case slated for Wednesday (November 27). 

The verdict would be pronounced after around three years and four months since the case was lodged over the gruesome militant attack.

Dhaka Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal Judge Mobijur Rahman on November 17 set November 27 to deliver its verdict in the case after the prosecution and defense concluded their respective arguments. 

Golam Sarwar Khan Zakir, lawyer for prosecution, said they hope death penalty against eight accused in the verdict of heinous Holey Artisan Cafe attack case as the accused's guilt has been proved.

Lawyer Mohammad Delwar Hossain for defense, however, said they hope justice to their clients as they could prove them not guilty.   

A gruesome attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in city's Gulshan by armed militants left twenty innocent people, most of whom are foreigners, on July 1, 2016. Two police officials also lost their lives while trying to save people there. Later, five attackers were killed in a commando operation.

Police, later, lodged a case with Gulshan Police Station in this connection under Anti-Terrorism Act.

Among 221 witnesses in the case, a total of 113 have testified before the tribunal.

The trial against the eight militants started on November 26 last year in the much-talked about Holey Artisan attack case.

On July 23, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of police submitted the charge sheet against eight accused.

The accused are Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, Rakibul Hasan Rigan, Rashedul Islam alias Ryash, Sohel Mahfuz, Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan, Hadisur Rahman Sagor, Shariful Islam and Mamunur Rashid.

A total of 21 people were identified behind the attack. Among them, 13 people were killed in different drives carried out by the law enforcers.

Five militants killed in Army's counter 'Operation Thunderbolt' are: Rohan Ibne Imtiaz, Meer Sameh Mobashwer, Nibras Islam, Shafiqul Islam alias Ujjal and Khairul Islam alias Payel.