Grenade attack on UK envoy: Appeal verdict on Feb 11

The High Court today fixed February 11 for delivering appeal verdict in a case filed for a grenade attack on the then British high commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury in 2004.

In the attack on May 21, 2004 three people were killed at Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine in Sylhet. About 70 others were injured.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain fixed the date after finishing hearing on the death reference of the case and the appeal filed by the convicts.

READ MORE: The report on blast of 2004

The Bangladesh-born envoy, barely 18 days into his new assignment, suffered minor leg injuries in the grenade explosion after Friday prayers.

The 700-year-old shrine, 278km northeast of the capital, jolted with the force of the blast that came at about 1:40pm with a big bang, sending worshippers running for cover.

On December 23, 2008, three militants of Harkatul Jihad (Huji) including its chief Mufti Abdul Hannan were sentenced to death in this murder case filed in connection with the grenade attack.

The Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal also awarded life terms to two other accused in the case--Mufti Hannan's brother Muhibullah alias Muhibur Rahman alias Ovi and Mufti Main Uddin alias Abu Zandal.

The two other sentenced to death are operatives of the outlawed militant outfit, Sharif Shahedul Alam Bipul and Md Delwar Hossain alias Ripon.