CHATTOGRAM, August 17, 2022 (BSS)- A Chattogram court today sentenced five
activists of banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to
death in a case filed over the bomb attacks at two Jam-e-Mosques inside the
Isha Khan Naval Base at Patenga during the Jumma prayers on December 18 in
2015.
The death penalty awarded are former Navy member M Sakhawat Hossain,
ballkeeper Abdul Mannan, Ramzan Ali, Babul Rahman alias Roni and Abdul
Mannan's elder brother JMB member Abdul Ghaffar.
Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal of Chattogram Judge Mohammad Abdul Halim
delivered the verdict in presence of four convicted persons except Sakhawat
Hossain.
According to the prosecution story, in brief, the bomb exploded in the two
Jam-e-Mosques inside the Isha Khan Naval base at Patenga within 10 minutes
during the Jumma prayers on December 18, 2015. Along with the Navy members,
locals also offered prayers in the mosques on Friday. A total of 24 military-
civilian people were injured in the blasts.
On September 3, 2016, nine months after the explosion, Naval Provost Marshal
Commander M Abu Sayed filed two separate cases under the Anti-Terrorism and
Explosives Act in the city's EPZ Police Station over the blasts.
The accused in the case are former Navy member M Sakhawat Hossain, ball
keeper Abdul Mannan, Ramzan Ali and Babul Rahman alias Roni and JMP chief
coordinator of Chattogram region Raisul Islam Khan Noman alias Nafis alias
Fardin.
Fardeen was killed in an explosion while making grenades at Sherpur in Bogra
on April 3, 2016. Due to this, his name was excluded from the charge-sheet of
the case.
Inspector Mohammad Osman Gani of the EPZ Police Station submitted the charge-
sheet before the court accusing five JMB men including Abdul Ghaffer On
October 15, 2017.
The accused were also fined Taka 50 thousand each.
In the case, the court framed charges against the militants on January 28 in
2020.
After examining 17 prosecution witnesses, out of 24, the court pronounced the
verdict today in presence of four convicts.