The government will take an initiative for early hearing and disposal of death reference and appeals in the sensational Holey Artisan Bakery attack case.

"As the paper book of Holey Artisan Bakery attack case has reached the High Court, the government will take necessary steps for quick hearing," Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star today.

He said, "I will now talk to the attorney general's office and ask it to move an application before the High Court for starting hearing on the death reference and appeals of the case."

The paper book of the case reached the HC from Bangladesh Government Press on Sunday.

The paper book, which includes trial proceedings, statements, evidence, orders, verdict and other relevant documents, is necessary for the HC to hear and dispose of a death reference or an appeal.

According to the Code of Criminal Procedure, if a lower court orders death penalty, the verdict is examined by the HC for confirmation of the punishment.

On July 1, 2016, five militants, armed with guns, machetes and grenades, stormed the upscale eatery in the diplomatic zone in Gulshan and held the diners hostage before killing 20 of them -- three Bangladeshis, seven Japanese, nine Italians and one Indian.

The militants were killed during a rescue operation by army commandos. Two police officials and a chef of the café were also killed during the 12-hour standoff while another injured staffer of the eatery died later.

A Dhaka court on November 27 last year sentenced seven militants to death for their involvement in the attack, terming it a disgraceful attack aimed at assassinating the non-communal character of Bangladesh.

The Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal acquitted one accused as it found him not guilty. The court handed down death sentences to seven for their involvement.