11 'militants' charged for robbery, killings

Police yesterday pressed charges against 11 “militants” for their alleged involvement in the killing of eight people during a sensational bank heist in Ashulia in April.

The accused are alleged members of banned Islamist outfits Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), said Dipak Kumar Saha, investigation officer of the case and officer-in-charge (investigation) of Ashulia Police Station.

Dipak submitted two charge sheets -- one for the killings and the robbery, and the other for possessing explosives -- before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court of Dhaka yesterday afternoon.

In the broad daylight of April 21, robbers shot seven people dead and injured at least 25 others in Bangladesh Commerce Bank Ltd in Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital before leaving with Tk 35 lakh.

A mob captured and beat one of the robbers to death and an injured died of his wounds later.

Dipak said during the investigation, he discovered the involvement of 13 people in the robbery and the killings.

One of the 13 was killed by the mob and the mastermind of the robbery, Abdullah Al Baki, was killed in a shootout with law enforcers in Gabtoli last month, he said.

Of the 11 accused in the charge sheets, 10 were in custody, Dipak told The Daily Star last night.

Dipak said Baki, a JMB-man-turned-ABT-leader, carried out the robbery to fund militant activities.

Six “militants” took part in the robbery directly while the rest aided and abetted them, Dipak said, adding that seven accused have confessed before a court.