Mufti Hannan to seek presidential clemency

Death row convict Mufti Abdul Hannan, the chief of banned Islamist outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (Huji), on Wednesday said he would seek presidential clemency.

According to senior jail superintendent Mizanur Rahman of Kashimpur high security jail, Mufti Hannan said he would file mercy petition to the president after the copy of the verdict was read out to him at around 10:15am.

On 19 March, the appellate division of the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty of three HuJi men, including its chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, in a case filed for the grenade attack on the then UK envoy in Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury in 2004.

On 21 March, the appellate division released the full text of its verdict on the review petition of the three HuJi men challenging their death penalties.

On 7 December last, the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty of the three HuJi men.

On 11 February last year, a High Court bench, comprising justice M Enayetur Rahim and justice Amir Hossain, delivered the death sentence of three of the accused - Mufti Abdul Hannan, Sharif Shahedul Alam and Delwar Hossain - and life-term imprisonment of two others - Mufti Hannan’s brother Mohibullah and Mufti Moinuddin - handed down by the lower court.

Anwar Choudhury and 51 others were injured while three, including two police officials, were killed in a grenade attack at Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) shrine in Sylhet on 21 May 2004.

Later, two cases - one for murder and another under the Explosive Act - were filed in connection with the grenade attack.

After investigation into the case, charges were framed against four people, including Mufti Hannan, on 31 July 2007.

The Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal of Sylhet on 23 December 2008, awarded death sentence to Huji leaders Hannan, Sharif Shahedul Alam Bipul and Delwar Hossain Ripon while Mufti Muhibur Rahman (Hannan’s brother) and Mufti Mainuddin were awarded life term, and fined Tk 10,000 each in the murder case.

Source: Prothom Alo