Dhaka: Today marks the 9th anniversary of the tragic Holey Artisan Bakery attack that claimed the lives of 22 individuals, including 17 foreign nationals. The attack, which took place in 2016, saw militants armed with firearms, sharp weapons, and grenades target the bakery in Gulshan. Among the victims were three Bangladeshis, seven Japanese, nine Italians, and one Indian, along with two police officers who were killed during the rescue operations.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Sub-Inspector Ripon Kumar Das filed a case three days post-incident at the Gulshan Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act. On November 27, 2019, the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal in Dhaka sentenced seven members of the New Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to death for their roles in the attack. The convicts included Rakibul Hasan Regan, Md Jahangir Hossain alias Rajib Gandhi, Aslam Hossain alias Rash, Hadisur Rahman, Md Abdus Sabur Khan alias Sohel Mahfuz, Mamunur Rashid alias Ripon, and Shariful Islam Khaled.
On October 30, 2023, around four years after the initial sentencing, the High Court (HC) bench comprised of Justice Shahidul Karim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman commuted the death sentences of the seven convicts to imprisonment until death. This decision followed a hearing on the death references. The HC published its full report on June 17, explaining the rationale behind commuting the sentences. The court emphasized the need for justice, taking into account the severity of the attack and its impact on Bangladesh’s international image.
In May this year, six of the seven convicts submitted four leave-to-appeal petitions to the apex court, seeking to overturn their convictions and attain acquittal from the charges.