The death reference of convicts and their appeal against the verdict in the case over the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery terror attack are being heard in the High Court, and if all goes as planned, the hearing is expected to conclude in July.
The state hopes for the death penalty for all militants convicted by the lower court.
On July 1, 2016, a group of militants attacked Holey Artisan Bakery and killed 22 people, including 17 foreigners and two policemen. The carnage ended when a team of army commandos stormed the restaurant in Gulshan and shot the five attackers dead the next day.
A case was subsequently filed at Gulshan police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
On November 26, 2018, charges were filed against eight accused in the case. The trial concluded on November 27, 2019, with the court issuing death sentences for seven of the accused and acquitting one. The verdict was delivered by Judge Md Mujibur Rahman of Dhaka Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal.
The death row convicts are Md Aslam Hossain alias Rashed alias Ryash, Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, Abdus Sabur Khan alias Sohel Mahfuz, Hadisur Rahman Sagor, Rakibul Islam Regan, Shariful Islam Khaled and Mamunur Rashid Ripon.
They were also fined Tk50,000 each.
Another militant named Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan was cleared of the charges.
Following the verdict, in accordance with the law, the hearing of the death reference (approval of the death penalty) and the appeals of the convicted and the acquitted arrived at the High Court in December 2019.
A total of 2,307 pages of documents, including the case statement, seizure list, charge sheet, witness testimonies and verdict, were submitted to the death reference branch of the High Court. The preparation of a paper book for the hearing of the appeal was then ordered.
The Supreme Court administration confirmed that the documents were returned to the High Court once they were prepared at the Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press).
The hearing in the case was then assigned to a High Court bench consisting of Justice Shahidul Karim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman, as determined by the chief justice.
The case was listed for hearing in January and was heard most recently on May 3, 15, 17 and 18.
However, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin expressed hope that the hearing of the case would conclude in July.
"The government has shown zero tolerance on this issue globally. We have taken it seriously and are working on resolving the case quickly. I hope the hearing will conclude this month. A judge has gone to perform hajj. Once he returns, the hearing of the case will be concluded in two to three working days," he said.
