POLICE on Monday submitted the chargesheet against eight militants in connection with the case of extremist attack on Gulshan’s Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 in 2016 in which 20 people, mostly foreigners, were killed. Police found involvement of 21 operatives of the Neo-Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in the attack and accused eight militants. Names of 13 others were dropped as they had been killed in different anti-militant operations. Five militants were killed in the joint forces operation “Thunderbolt” led by para-commando battalion of Bangladesh Army. Six of the eight chargesheeted are now in jail while two are at large. Former teacher of North South University Hasnat Karim was dropped from the chargesheet as his involvement in the attack was not found.
Police said the militant attack was carried out for destabilising the country, discouraging the local and foreign investments, pushing the government into trouble and attracting attention of the international militant organisations. The militants chose cafe for attack as there were lapses in security and for gathering of many foreigners. Police said they took two years to make the chargesheet perfect as a flawless chargesheet could ensure proper punishment of culprits.
The militants had claimed IS link but police did not find it true. We think, the militants may not had link directly with IS but they had ideological similarity which encouraged them to conduct a bloody jihad.
Nevertheless, only first phase has been done by police. In the second phase — the court will decide about the punishment of the criminals. Now the most important task of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit is to arrest two fugitive militants and produce then before the court. If the two militants remain out of police vigilance they can do more harm in the future.
We hope, the trial procedure of the sensational case will proceed without any unprecedented delay. It is not possible to compensate to the family members of those who have lost their lives in the militant attack. But if the killers and masterminds are punished, they would get mental satisfaction.
Police said the militant attack was carried out for destabilising the country, discouraging the local and foreign investments, pushing the government into trouble and attracting attention of the international militant organisations. The militants chose cafe for attack as there were lapses in security and for gathering of many foreigners. Police said they took two years to make the chargesheet perfect as a flawless chargesheet could ensure proper punishment of culprits.
The militants had claimed IS link but police did not find it true. We think, the militants may not had link directly with IS but they had ideological similarity which encouraged them to conduct a bloody jihad.
Nevertheless, only first phase has been done by police. In the second phase — the court will decide about the punishment of the criminals. Now the most important task of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit is to arrest two fugitive militants and produce then before the court. If the two militants remain out of police vigilance they can do more harm in the future.
We hope, the trial procedure of the sensational case will proceed without any unprecedented delay. It is not possible to compensate to the family members of those who have lost their lives in the militant attack. But if the killers and masterminds are punished, they would get mental satisfaction.
