Shawdesh Desk:

The prosecution in the case lodged over horrific militant attack at the capital’s Holey Artisan Bakery in 2016 wants maximum punishment for all the eight accused in the trial, saying it would play an important role in curbing militancy in the country.

“We hope the tribunal would give maximum punishment to all the accused as we believe the prosecution have been able to prove the case against them beyond any reasonable doubt,” Dhaka metropolitan public prosecutor Abdullah Abu told journalists.

Abu further said the maximum punishment for the accused in the case would play an important role in curbing militancy in the country, by creating a sense of fear among the militants and like-minded people.

Dhaka Anti-terrorism Special Tribunal is scheduled to pronounce judgement in the case tomorrow, almost three and a half years after the grisly militant attack that claimed lives of 20 innocent people, most of them foreigners, in the attack carried out on July 1, 2016.

Another prosecution counsel Golam Sarwar Khan Zakir too hoped that the tribunal would convict the accused and award them death, adding, “The prosecution has been able to prove the case based on the witnesses and evidences examined.”

Judge Md Mujibur Rahman of Dhaka Anti-terrorism Special Tribunal on November 17 set tomorrow to pass judgement in the case as both prosecution and defence concluded their arguments in the case on that day.

Meanwhile, law enforcing agencies have taken special security measures marking tomorrow’s judgement in this sensational case as they are planning to set up cordons in and around the court area from tonight.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s additional commissioners Mir Rezaul Alam and Krishna Podo Roy inspected the area this afternoon and gave necessary directions to police’s Lalbagh division and DC prosecution.

Confirming the matter to BSS, deputy commissioner (DC) prosecution Jafar Hossain said the two senior police officials have gave them necessary directions.

“Although we are not expecting any untoward incident on the judgement day, but we would be fully prepared any way,” he said.

Officer in-charge (OC) of Dhaka metropolitan court lockup Moinul Islam said they would take special measures in bringing and taking away the accused to and from the court.

A total of 113 out of 211 witnesses have testified in the case.

Two police officials valiantly laid down their lives while trying to save people during the militant attack. Later, five militants were killed in a commando operation.

Police filed the case under the anti-terror act with Gulshan Police Station. The trial initiated on November 26, 2018 by framing charges against the eight accused– Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Rashedul Islam alias Rash, Sohel Mahfuz, Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan, Hadisur Rahman Sagar, Shariful Islam and Mamunur Rashid.