Govt for prompt disposal of the appeals: minister

The  government will take an initiative for early hearing and disposal of  the death reference and appeals of sensational Holey Artisan Bakery  Attack case before the High Court.

"As the  paper book of Holey Artisan Bakery attack has been prepared, the  government will take necessary steps for its quick hearing," Law  Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star yesterday.

He  said, "I will now talk to the attorney general's office and ask it to  move an application before the High Court for starting hearing on the  death reference and appeals of the case".

The paper book of Holey Artisan Bakery attack case reached the HC from the Bangladesh Government Press on Sunday.

The  paper book, which includes trial proceedings, statements, evidence,  orders, verdict and other relevant documents, is necessary for the HC to  hear and dispose of a death reference or an appeal.

According  to the Code of Criminal Procedure, if a lower court orders death  penalty, the verdict is examined by the HC for confirmation of the  punishment.

On July 1, 2016, five militants,  armed with guns, machetes and grenades, stormed the upscale eatery in  the diplomatic zone in Gulshan and held the diners hostage before  killing 20 of them -- three Bangladeshis, seven Japanese, nine Italians  and one Indian.

The militants were killed  during a rescue operation by army commandos. Two police officials and a  chef of the café were also killed during the 12-hour standoff while  another injured staffer of the eatery died later.

A  Dhaka court on November 27 last year sentenced seven militants to death  for their involvement in the attack, terming it a disgraceful attack  aimed at assassinating the non-communal character of Bangladesh.

The  Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal acquitted one accused as it found him  not guilty in the atrocity. The court handed down death sentences to  seven for their involvement.