8 sentenced to death in Bangladesh for killing publisher
Feb 10, 2021
A special tribunal in Bangladesh has sentenced to death eight Islamic militants tied to a banned group for the 2015 killing of a publisher of books on secularism and atheism
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A special tribunal in Bangladesh’s capital on Wednesday sentenced to death eight Islamic militants for the 2015 killing of a publisher of books on secularism and atheism.
Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal Judge Majibur Rahman announced the verdicts in a packed courtroom in the presence of six defendants. Another two, including sacked military official Sayed Ziaul Haque Zia, remain at large.
The judge had earlier issued arrest warrants for them. The prosecution said they belonged to the banned militant outfit Ansar al Islam.
In October 2015, suspected militants hacked to death Faisal Abedin Deepan of the Jagriti Prokashoni publishing house in a market near the Dhaka University. On the same day, another publisher, Ahmed Rashid Tutul, survived a near simultaneous attack also in Dhaka.
Both victims were publishers of Bangladeshi-American writer and blogger Avijit Roy, who also was hacked to death in February 2015 when he was returning from an annual book fair in Dhaka.
The judge said prosecutors were able to prove the charges against all the eight accused. He said they acted against free thinkers with a larger aim to destabilize the country.
Razia Rahman, Deepan’s wife, expressed satisfaction with the verdict. The defense said they would appeal.
Tutul, who was severely wounded, flew to Nepal and ended up taking asylum in Norway with his family.
“Yes, I just heard the news of the verdict. I wish we will one day come to know who is this former army officer Zia. Why he masterminded the attack and how he was patronized,” Tutul told The Associated Press in a message from Norway. “I think Bangladesh will seriously deal with the radical forces and get rid of them.”
In 2015, several atheists, bloggers and foreigners were killed by suspected militants. A Dhaka bomb attack on Oct. 24, 2015, aimed at minority Shiite Muslims killed a teenager and injured more than 100 people.
Authorities say the broke the network of militants in a massive crackdown following a 2016 attack on a cafe in Dhaka in which 22 people, including 17 foreigners, died together with five assailants.
The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for that and other attacks, but Bangladesh’s government said that domestic groups were behind them and insisted that IS has no presence in the country.
MORE NEWS
GST collections remain strong, but faster import growth needs watching: Tax experts
India's GST collections remained strong, rising to Rs 2.04 lakh crore in September, however experts express concern over the wide gap in tax revenue from imports and domestic transactions. They say that the divergence suggested that imports were contributing significantly to the overall growth in collections. The trend could warrant a reassessment of some production-linked incentive schemes to strengthen domestic manufacturing.
Bachelors not allowed? Bengaluru based entrepreneur claims society president asked him to vacate flat just days after he paid deposit
A Bengaluru entrepreneur has described being asked to vacate a rented apartment days after moving in, claiming the residential society objected to him living there as a bachelor. Nikhil Sheoran said he had already paid the security deposit and signed a rental agreement before being told to leave. His account triggered an online discussion about bachelor tenants and housing society rules.
Iran readies harder retaliation if attacked as diplomacy faces long odds
Iran is intensifying its military response planning amid fears of US military escalation in the region. Senior commanders are considering broader targets beyond US-linked assets in their strategic discussions. Diplomatically, Iran has proposed a plan through Qatari mediators to halt fighting and resume oil exports. Economic pressures and fears of unrest within Iran complicate the situation for the leadership.
Asian Games 2026, Day 13 Wrap: India Win Five Medals; Men's Hockey & Cricket Teams Reach Finals
India's overall medal haul rose to 65, including 10 gold, 23 silver and 32 bronze which kept the country inside the top-10 of the standings.
Is Iran behind Flydubai hijack attempt? What we know about the Omani pilot's motive
On September 30, a harrowing incident unfolded on a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot is accused of stabbing the captain, which forced the plane into a distressing descent and emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Passengers and crew quickly intervened, restraining the assailant after the captain opened the cockpit door.
Asian Games 2026 Day 13 Highlights: India Win 5 Medals; Men's Hockey & Cricket Teams Qualify For Final
Asian Games 2026 Highlights: Wrestler Nitesh Siwach bagged the silver medal in the 97kg Greco-Roman wrestling event, while India won two bronze medals in the squash team events.
Satya Niketan neighborhood recovers slowly post-tragedy as students resume daily life
Satya Niketan is gradually returning to normal three weeks after a tragic building collapse. Students are once again frequenting local eateries while some continue to feel insecure in their accommodations. Many residents report a decrease in the student population, affecting local businesses and sales. A few students have expressed their reluctance to leave despite safety concerns and ongoing rent agreements.
Satya Niketan neighborhood recovers slowly post-tragedy as students resume daily life
Satya Niketan is gradually returning to normal three weeks after a tragic building collapse. Students are once again frequenting local eateries while some continue to feel insecure in their accommodations. Many residents report a decrease in the student population, affecting local businesses and sales. A few students have expressed their reluctance to leave despite safety concerns and ongoing rent agreements.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar airlifted to Abu Dhabi after Flydubai cockpit attack
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by his co-pilot during a mid-air cockpit attack, was airlifted to Abu Dhabi for further treatment, ANI reported. Machchhar was earlier hospitalised in Saudi Arabia after helping foil an alleged attempt to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar airlifted to Abu Dhabi after Flydubai cockpit attack
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by his co-pilot during a mid-air cockpit attack, was airlifted to Abu Dhabi for further treatment, ANI reported. Machchhar was earlier hospitalised in Saudi Arabia after helping foil an alleged attempt to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
