Law enforcers have taken additional security measures for the verdict of the Holey Artisan case tomorrow. Police will enhance security on the court premise from Tuesday midnight. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner Mir Rezaul Karim and Krishna Pada Roy visited the court area on Tuesday to design the security plan.
After visiting the area, they have given necessary instructions to Lalbagh Division and Prosecution Division of the DMP. Deputy Commissioner ( Prosecution) Zafar Hossain said, “ Two Additional Commissioners have observed the court area from security aspects.”
They have also given us some special instructions, he added. Though there is no security threats, we have strengthened our security measures in and around the court area, he further said. Inspector Moynul Islam said, “ We shall take special security measures during the movements of accused in the case.”
Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Benazir Ahmed said, “Verdict is milestone for us, our country people never imagined such heinous incident. They are peace loving. 809 militants were arrested after Holey Artisan, 25 were dead in operation. 8 militant surrounded to RAB, which is ground breaking for militant cases in South Asia, after Afghanistan” Tomorrow is verdict, I expect perpetrators will get the punishment and innocent will get justice at the same time, he added.
RAB taken all measures against militants, created awareness through mobile apps, leaflet, and posters. The court will decide on Wednesday the case of Holey Artisan. Security has been beefed up in regarding verdict. We are alert. RAB will continue its fight against militancy, four different collaborative mechanisms working against militancy in the country, RAB boss continued.
He further said we are stringent and our surveillance accordance to our capability is active with collaboration of all intelligence agencies. A court set Wednesday to pass its judgement in the case filed over the horrific militant attack in the capital’s Holey Artisan Bakery in 2016.
On November 17, Judge Md Mujibur Rahman of Dhaka Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal set the date as both prosecution and defence concluded their arguments in the case. A total of 113 out of 211 witnesses have testified in the case. Militants killed 20 innocent people, most of them foreigners, in the attack on July 1, 2016. Two police officials valiantly laid down their lives while trying to save people there. Later, five militants were killed in a commando operation.
Police filed the case under the anti-terror act with Gulshan Police Station. The trial initiated on November 26, 2018, by framing charges against the eight accused. The accused are - Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Rashedul Islam alias Rash, Sohel Mahfuz, Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan, Hadisur Rahman Sagar, Shariful Islam and Mamunur Rashid.