Netrakona Udichi blast SC upholds death sentence for JMB man Younus

Staff Reporter :
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentence of a banned Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) activist for aiding and abetting the killing of eight people through suicide bomb attacks at Udichi and Shata Dal Shilpi Goshthi offices in Netrakona in 2005.
A three-member Bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique dismissed an appeal filed by the convict Younus Ali, challenging the High Court verdict that had affirmed a trial court judgment sentencing him to death for the killings.
Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Sarwar Hossain Bappi said that the jail authorities, upon receiving the apex court verdict, can now take steps for the execution of the JMB man, unless he does take any further legal steps.
Younus, who is in Dhaka central jail, can seek a review of the SC verdict and ask for presidential mercy, he added.

According to the prosecution, the suicide bomb attacks were carried out at Udichi and Shata Dal Shilpi Goshthi offices around 10:30am on December 8, 2005 which left eight people dead and 40 others injured. The explosives were made by one Arid alias Kafi.

The victims of the blasts are Khawja Haider, Sudipta Paul Shelly, Rani Begum, Joinal, Raisuddin, Yadev Das, Jahanara and Shawkat.

On February 17, 2008, a Dhaka Court sentenced three JMB activists, Salahuddin alias Saleheen, Asaduzzaman Chowdhury alias Panir and Younus Ali, to death for the killings.

The HC, in 2014, upheld the death penalties, DAG Sarwar said. He said the death sentences of Salahuddin and Asaduzzaman have already been executed in line with an SC verdict.

DAG Sarwar said the trial of Younus took time as he was on the run. He was tried in absentia. Younus was arrested after the trial court delivered its verdict.

Younus did not file any appeal with the HC challenging the trial court judgement, but he submitted an appeal to the Appellate Division through a lawyer.

A lawyer named Jahangir Alam appeared for Younus, the DAG informed.