Bangladesh News

A court here yesterday awarded death sentence to three leaders of outlawed Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and life imprisonment to five others of the militant outfit for their involvement in August 17 blasts in the district town.

Those awarded death penalty are Ataur Rahman Sunny, Masudur Rahman and Amjad Ali. The lifers are Arifur Rahman, Azharul Islam, Maulana Emranul Atahar, Maulana Ershadullah and Nazrul Islam.

All the convicts were in the dock during the judgment delivered by District and Sessions Judge AK Roy in a crowded courtroom.

After hearing the verdict, the convicts said they do not accept it and they want justice under the law of Allah. While coming out of the court, the JMB men started singing Islamic songs.

According to the prosecution, the eight Islamist militants were involved in the August 17 serial blasts at seven points in the district town. They were also involved in a bomb attack on the court in October the same year.

Earlier, Ataur Rahman Sunny along with JMB chief Abdur Rahman and operation commander Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai was sentenced to death for killing two assistant judges in Jhalakati.