Hannan's Execution: Family asked to meet him

The family members were asked to meet death row convicts Mufti Abdul Hannan, chief of a faction of banned militant outfit Huji-B, and his aide Sharif Shahedul Alam Bipul yesterday.

They were asked to meet the two militants, condemned for the 2004 grenade attack on the then UK High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in Sylhet, around 11:00am, said Mizanur Rahman, senior jail super of Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur.

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However, none of them went there till 9:30 last night.

The family members of Delwar Hossain alias Ripon, the other condemned militant from the Harkat-ul- Jihad al-Islam Bangladesh, met him at Sylhet Central Jail around 2:00pm yesterday, reports our Sylhet correspondent quoting Senior Jail Super Sagir Mian. 

Meanwhile, the authorities of the jails have completed all preparations to execute the death row convicts after receiving an execution order from the home ministry on Monday.

Gazipur district police beefed up security in and around the Kashimpur jail yesterday.

As per the jail code, the jail authorities can execute death sentences between 21st and 28th day from the date of issuance of death warrants.

The Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal issued death warrants for the militants on March 22 and so today is the 22nd day.

Earlier in December last year, the Supreme Court upheld the death penalties for the Huji militants, including Mufti Hannan, for carrying out the grenade attack. 

After the three condemned militants filed mercy petitions, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday told reporters that the president rejected them.

Three people were killed and some 70 others, including Anwar Choudhury, injured in the May 21, 2004 grenade attack at Shahjalal Shrine in Sylhet after the Juma prayers.

The Bangladesh-born British diplomat suffered minor leg injuries barely 18 days into his new assignment.