August 17 series blast: 5 JMB men get 12-yr jail sentence
The verdict came 14 years after the militant attack
The Special Tribunal 2 on Sunday sentenced five Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to 12 years imprisonment each in connection with the series blast attack on August 17, 2005.
The verdict came 14 years after a case was filed over one of the militant attacks that took place in the Khilkhet area of Dhaka. A total of 19 witnesses testified against the convicts.
The court also fined the five men Tk30,000 each and they will have to serve another six months in jail in default.
"All the allegations have been proven true against the accused five," public prosecutor Advocate Shabuddin later told reporters.
Judge Md Al Mamun delivered the verdict in presence of three convicts Abdullah Al Sohain, Abdur Rahman Mashuk, Nurul Islam alias Uzzal.
The court then directed that two fugitives, Habibur Rahman Habib and Md Musa alias Mostafizur Rahman, be punished from the day of their arrest or surrender.
Banned militant organization Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen carried out a series blast attack in 63 districts of the country on August 17, 2005. A blast took place in Khilkhet area around 8:30am on that day and a case was filed in this connection with the Khilkhet police station.