Sentencing over Bangladesh bombs

By Shahriar Karim
BBC News, Dhaka

The government blames JMB for recent bombings

Three Bangladeshi men accused of Islamic militancy have been given 30 year prison sentences for a bomb attack that killed two judges last November.

The three belonged to Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), who the authorities blame for the recent spate of bombings, police say.

On November 14, two judges died when a suicide bomber attacked the court-house in southern Jhalakathi district.

This is the second such verdict against members of JMB.

Murder trial

A special court in Barisal city, south of the national capital Dhaka, sentenced Ataur Rahman Sunny, described as a top commander of the militant group, Abdul Awal and Hasan Al-Mamun, whom the police describe as the would-be suicide bomber, under the country's explosives act.

Mamun will serve an additional 10 years as apart from the bombs strapped to his body, he also threw bombs at the judges, which killed them, the court found.

Lawyers and courts have been targets of bombings

The three convicted militants also face a separate murder charge for the same incident, which carries a death penalty.

Lawyers said the three militants were taken to the court to hear the charges against them, but when they confessed to their role in the bombing, all three were sentenced by the judge.

Another accused, Sultan Khan, was also taken to the court. But he denied the charges drawn up against him by the police.

The court also heard the charges against fugitive JMB chief Shaykh Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam, also known as Bangla Bhai.

In a similar verdict last month, another JMB activist was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The government holds the JMB responsible for the string of bombings across the country since August last year, which has killed at least 30 people.

The militant group has been demanding the introduction of Islam's Sharia law in the country.