A court in Bangladesh's Barisal district Monday sentenced two prominent Islamist militants for their role in the killing of two judges by suicide bombers last November, reports the BBC.The names of the militants, belonging to the outlawed Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), were not immediately known.
The eight people under trial for the blast in Jhalakati town that killed the two judges include JMB's chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman, his younger brother Ataur Rahman Sunny and Siddiqaul Islam alias Bangla Bhai.
Additional District and Sessions Judge of Jhalakati, Reza Tarik Ahmed, delivered the verdict in the sensational case after examining 45 witnesses and hearing arguments on both sides. The prosecution urged death sentence for all the eight militants involved in the crime.
Earlier, the Barisal Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal awarded 40 years rigorous imprisonment on Feb 20 under sections of the explosive act in another case connected with the judges' killing.
Widespread security measures were taken in and around the court area of Jhalakati and also in different judicial and sensational offices in the region on the occasion.
Two senior assistant judges -- Jagannath Pandey and Sohel Ahmed -- were killed in a bomb attack on their car at Purba Chadkati in the Jhalakati town on Nov 14, 2005, in the wake of a spurt in violent militant operations across the country.
Bangladesh Observer newspaper said that when the court announced the closure of the case, pending verdict, Thursday, the accused sang their party song in a chorus.
"JMB shall overcome,..." chanted JMB chief Abdur Rahman and his colleague Bangla Bhai as they were whisked into the prison van from the court on that day.
Shaikh and the Bangla Bhai spoke in the court on behalf of the those dock, justifying their mission.
Shaikh Rahman requested the court not to hurriedly deliver the judgment. He demanded their trial by a jury board formed with Islamic thinkers.
Bangla Bhai said a man like him was created owing to "corruption and waywardness of police" and demanded that the court should not discriminate in delivering judgment.
(IANS)
