World

Bangladesh Court jails extremists over 2005 blasts

August 08, 2017
Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel detain a suspected Islamist extremist after he surrendered in Ashulia, some 25 km from Dhaka, in this July 16, 2017 file photo. — AFP
Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel detain a suspected Islamist extremist after he surrendered in Ashulia, some 25 km from Dhaka, in this July 16, 2017 file photo. — AFP

DHAKA — A Bangladeshi court on Tuesday jailed 14 extremists for their roles in a deadly series of coordinated bomb attacks in 2005.

At least two people were killed and hundreds wounded in the blasts orchestrated by the Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), an outlawed Islamist group also blamed by authorities for last year’s deadly attack on a Dhaka cafe.

The court in the central district of Tangail sentenced all 14 accused to 20 years in jail, although only 10 were present, court inspector Anwarul Islam said.

The other four are still on the run.

The JMB set off over 400 bombs across the country in 2005 to press for the introduction of Shariah law in the country.

It later bombed a series of cultural and political venues, including courts, killing around 30 people including several judges.

That led to a massive crackdown by the security forces in which JMB leaders were arrested. Many have since been tried and executed for their crimes.

The Bangladesh government blames the JMB for a series of attacks in recent years on foreigners, atheist bloggers, rights activists and religious minorities.

In the deadliest of these attacks, five gunmen stormed an upscale Dhaka cafe in July 2016, killing 22 people including 18 foreigners.

Daesh (the so-called Islamic State) claimed responsibility for the attack, but police and the government blamed JMB for the carnage, discounting suggestions that Daesh had a foothold in Bangladesh. — AFP


August 08, 2017
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