Judge Anisur Rahman Khan of Jhenidah District and Sessions Judge's Court sentenced the 21 men to death by hanging after they were found guilty of carrying out bomb blasts in Jhenidah. Three of the convicts were tried in absentia.

All 21, aged between 20 and 25, are members of the militant group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and were sentenced under the Explosive Substances Act.

The convicts carried out bomb attacks at six places including the judge court premises in the district town. Russell, an eight-year old child, was injured in one of the attacks. JMB leaflets were found at the blast sites calling for imposition of strict Islamic laws in the country, says an AFP report.

The 21 sentenced to die in Jhehidah are Tariqul Islam alias Rinku, Monirul Islam alias Mokhlesur, Nasrullah alias Shanta alias Chanu, Rokonuzzaman alias Mithun, Abu Taleb Ansari alias Babul Ansari, Mohan, Mamunur Rashid alias Mamun, Muhid, Mozammel Haq alias Mozam, Tuhin Reza, Sabuj Ali alias Sabuj, Amirul, Faruk Hossain, Matin Mehedi alias Matinul Islam alias Mahabub Matin alias Mehedi Hasan alias Matinul Haq Mandal, Jahirul Al Mamun alias Chan, Billal Hossain, Sadruddin, Robjel Hossain alias Robjel, Azizur Rahman, Younus Ali and Azim Uddin.

Mohan, Tuhin Reza and Matin Mehedi are still in hiding.

After the blasts, police arrested JMB members Rinku and Mithun. Later, they gave statements to a magistrate confessing to their involvement in the blasts. On November 20 last year the police submitted a charge sheet to the court against the accused.

The court took depositions of 42 persons during the trial.

Meanwhile, District and Sessions Judge of Sylhet ANM Bashirullah yesterday sentenced a JMB cadre Akhtaruzzaman to death by hanging for carrying out a bomb attack on Biplob Goswami, a speedy trial tribunal judge of Sylhet division.

The court however acquitted four other accused, Obaidullah alias Obaidur, Moulana Saifuddin, Moulana Jamaluddin and Habibur Rahman.

In addition to capital punishment, the court sentenced Akhtaruzzaman to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fined him Tk 50,000 for hurling another bomb. In default on paying the fine, he will have to suffer another year in prison.

Akhtaruzzaman, who made the attack on Biplob Goswami on October 18 last year in Kumarpara area of Sylhet, was sentenced to another 20-year prison term and fined Tk 50,000 more for possessing a third bomb.

Abdus Salam, chauffeur of judge Goswami, filed the case with the Sylhet Kotwali Police Station the day after the attack.

Akhtaruzzaman, who hails from Sarishabari upazila in Jamalpur district, admitted his involvement with JMB activities in his confession.

The investigation officer, Sub-inspector Bazlar Rahman, submitted a charge sheet against the five accused on November 11. Thirty witnesses were cross-examined during the trial.

After the pronouncement of the sentence, Akhtar said, such judgments will not be able to stop 'the movement' against bribery and corruption. "We will carry on our mission to establish Islamic rule in place of the man made law," he said.

Public Prosecutor Md Nurul Haque prosecuted the case while advocates, Mokhlesur Rahman, ATM Masud and Abdul Khalique represented the defendants.

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