The verdict over the Holey Artisan attack case was issued on 27 November 2019. The court has sentenced seven people to death in connection with the case. Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jatiya Oikya Front, Jatiya Party, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and some other leftist parties have welcomed the verdict.
However, it has been observed that Jamaat-E-Islami, Hefazat-E-Islam and other major Islamic parties have not conveyed any reactions over the verdict. The silence of the Islamic parties over this verdict has raised some questions. It is not clear whether these parties are happy or unhappy with the verdict.
International media prominently covered the verdict including The Guardian, Washington Post, The New York Times and some news agencies such as BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters, AFP, AP etc. The South Asian media also extensively covered the news and welcomed the court's verdict.
Even the US Embassy in Dhaka issued a statement welcoming the court's verdict and expressed its deepest condolences to the loved ones of the civilians slain and Bangladeshi law enforcement officials who were killed or injured responding to this contemptible terrorist attack.
Two convicts were seen wearing black caps with Islamic State (IS) symbol after the verdict was pronounced on 27 November. One of the accused showed a "V" sign raising his fingers while he was being taken to the courtroom from police custody.
Another convict chanted "Naraye takvir, Allahu Akbar" in the courtroom. These convicts arrogantly said, "Our jihad cannot be stopped by hanging us." It shows that the convicts have no repentance for their crime.
Armed militants killed over twenty people including foreigners and two police officers in Holey Artisan Café on 1st July 2016. Army commandos raided Holey Artisan Café and put an end to the siege after 12 hours. All the militants were killed in a shootout with army commandos.
Later on investigations found that all these militants were instigated by the radical sermons of Dr. Zakir Naik. It is important to find out who promoted Dr. Zakir Naik's Peace TV, Peace Mobile and Peace School in Bangladesh. Economists and security experts have said that the financial source of militants should be identified and eliminated.
The intelligence wings of the government, police force, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Counter Terrorism Unit of Bangladesh Police have meanwhile raided militant hideouts in different parts of Bangladesh. The law and order forces are always on high alert to tackle any threats posed by militancy and religious extremism.
Reportedly some banks and financial institutions are involved in providing monetary support to militants in a clandestine way. These allegations need to be inquired thoroughly and required actions need to be executed with immediate effect.
US Congress has expressed worries about the advent of militancy and radical groups in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Malaysian Home Ministry informed a few days ago that IS may shift its operations to Southeast Asia.
Former army chief Lt. General Harun Ur Rashid (Retd) said to The Asian Age, "It is essential for guardians to keep watch on the movement and activities of their children.
We will have to keep our young generation away from militancy. The true interpretation of Islam should be delivered to everyone because religious extremists misguide people with wrong explanation of theological aspects."
Professor Dr. Abul Barkat, President of Bangladesh Economics Association, told The Asian Age, "It is vital to find out the source of monetary and logistic support to militants. The financial regulatory authorities should crack down hard on money laundering to stop terror finance."
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