Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)–
A Bangladesh court Monday awarded death to 8 people including Huji chief Mufti Abdul Hannan for killing 10 people in bomb blasts during Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka 13 years ago.
The court fined six others life term imprisonment and fined them Tk 50,000 each.
If the convicts fail to pay the amount, they will have to serve one year more in jail, said the court ruling.
Judge Ruhul Amin of the Dhaka’s Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court passed the order amid tight security.
On April 14 in 2001, 10 people were killed and around 50 more injured as militant organisation Huji (Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami) blasted several bombs in the traditional celebration of Pahela Baishakh, the Bangla New Year, at the Ramna Batamul.
Leading cultural platform of Bangladesh, Chhayanaut, organises the event every year.
The Criminal Investigation Department on December 30, 2008 pressed charges against 14 accused in two cases—one for the killing and the other under the explosive substances act.
Both the cases were filed with Ramna Police Station in connection with the incident.
BBN/AS/ANS-23June14-12:20pm (BST)
