DHAKA, – Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal, while pronouncing judgement in Holey Artisan attack case today, said members of neo-JMB had carried out the monstrous attack to draw attention of Islamic State (IS), an international terrorist militant group.

“Members of Neo-JMB, a breakaway group of Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), caused the monstrous killings at Gulshan Holey Artisan Bakery to endanger public safety and draw attention of international militant outfit IS,” the court said in its observation.

The special tribunal sentenced seven out of total eight accused to death in the case lodged over 2016 militant attack that claimed lives of 20 innocent
people, most of them foreigners.

The court in its observation said Tamim Chowdhury, who was killed in a raid by Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CCTC) unit of Dhaka
Metropolitan Police in Narayanganj on August 27, 2016, was mastermind behind the attack and coordinated the whole incident.

“That was a shocking outcome of fury, cruelty and brutality of militancy. They carried out the killings in front of the children. They kept hacking the
lifeless bodies of the innocent victims to make sure their death. They turned the Holey Artisan Bakery in a death zone in a moment,” the court added.

The court further said that the militants attempted to tarnish the image of non-communal Bangladesh, which is known for its peace and communal
harmony.

“That’s why the accused don’t deserve any mercy or sympathy in sentencing… By giving them maximum punishment under section 6 (2) (a) of
Anti-Terrorism Act-2009 can only ensure proper justice and give little comfort to the relatives of the victims,” the court said.