A decade after the deadly Gulshan Holey Artisan Bakery attack, one of the most severe militant incidents in Bangladesh’s history, the case remains pending at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for final hearing.
Although the trial has been completed in both the lower court and the High Court, the case is yet to reach final disposal at the apex court.
The long-pending proceedings continue to draw national attention as the country marks 10 years since the attack.
According to the prosecution, the case carries significant importance beyond Bangladesh’s judicial system as foreign nationals were among the victims, giving it international relevance.
On 1 July, 2016, members of the banned militant group Neo-JMB carried out an armed assault at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, taking hostages and killing 20 people.
The victims included nine Italians, seven Japanese nationals, one Indian, one Bangladeshi-American citizen, and two Bangladeshis.
During the incident, Banani Police Station OC Salahuddin Ahmed and Assistant Commissioner Rabiul Islam were killed after being struck by explosives.
The hostage crisis ended following a commando operation conducted by the Bangladesh Army, during which all five were killed.
They were identified as Mir Sami Mubashir, Rohan Ibn Imtiaz alias Mamun, Nibras Islam, Khairul Islam Payel, and Shafiqul Islam Ujjal.
Subsequently, eight more Neo-JMB members were killed in separate operations by law enforcement agencies.
North South University teacher Abu Hasnat Reza Karim was later cleared of allegations due to lack of evidence.
Following trial proceedings, a Judge Md Mujibur Rahman of the Dhaka Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal on November 27, 2019, sentenced seven accused to death and acquitted one.
Those sentenced to death included Jahangir Hossain alias Rajib Gandhi, Aslam Hossain alias Rash, Abdus Sabur Khan, Rakibul Hasan Rigan, Hadisur Rahman, Shariful Islam alias Khaled, and Mamunur Rashid. Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan was acquitted.
The case was later sent to the High Court as a death reference, while the convicts filed appeals against the verdict.
On October 30, 2023, the High Court commuted the death sentences of the seven convicts to life imprisonment, along with a fine of Tk 50,000 each and an additional five-year prison term in default of payment.
The full judgment was published on the Supreme Court website on 17 June, 2025. The convicts subsequently filed appeals with the Appellate Division, where the case is now awaiting hearing.
Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal said the case is currently pending before the Appellate Division and steps are being taken to expedite hearings in important cases.
He added that the Holey Artisan attack holds both national and international significance due to the killing of foreign nationals.
The High Court, in its verdict, observed that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt the accused’s involvement in planning, conspiracy, funding, arms procurement, recruitment of attackers and providing training in safe houses, enabling the attack to be carried out.
