6 militants given death for 2015 Ashulia bank heist

Six militants of banned outfits Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team have been awarded gallows for the bank heist of Ashulia last year that led to death of eight people.

With one other handed life term, two have been given three years in jail while two others of the militant groups have been acquitted as charges brought against them could not be proved.

The death convicts are: Borhan Uddin, Saiful alias Al Amin, Mahfuzur Islam alias Sumon alias Jamil, Jashim Uddin, Palash alias Sohel Rana and Mintu Prodhan.

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Ukil Hasan was sentenced to life term imprisonment while Abdul Baten and Shahjahan Jamadar to three years. The acquitted are: Mozammel Haque and Babul Sarder.

Dhaka District and Session Judges’ Court Judge SM Kuddus Zaman passed the order in presence of the 10 convicts. Palash alias Sohel Rana is on the run.

On April 21 last year, a gang of 8-10 persons aged between 25 and 40 years shot dead seven people in Ashulia Industrial Area on the outskirts of the capital. They also hurled bombs and attacked bank officials, clients and locals with sharp weapons during the heist and escaped.

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An angry mob later beat to death one of the robbers while they were fleeing with about Tk 35 lakh looted from a branch of Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited in broad daylight.

Locals also handed another robber over to the police, while the rest managed to flee.

On December 1 last year, Ashulia police submitted two charge sheets -- one for the killings and robbery, and the other for possessing explosives. The case lodged for possessing explosives is pending with another Dhaka court.

Ashulia police during investigation discovered involvement of 13 people in the killings and robbery.

One of the 13 was killed by the mob and the mastermind of the robbery, Abdullah Al Baki, died in a shootout with law enforcers in November last year, police said.

Baki was said to be a member of Ansarullah Bangla Team, and a former operative of JMB.