Notorious day of August 17 series bombings today

Today marks the 21st anniversary of the nationwide bombings carried out by the banned militant group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

On August 17, 2005, coordinated bombings struck nearly 400 locations across 63 districts of Bangladesh. Courts, airports, the US embassy, offices of deputy commissioners and police superintendents were among the targets. The banned militant outfit JMB carried out the series of attacks.

Two people were killed and at least 104 injured in the bombings, which targeted all districts except Munshiganj.

According to police headquarters and RAB, 159 cases were filed across the country following the attacks. Among them, 18 cases were under Dhaka Metropolitan Police, 8 under Chattogram Metropolitan Police, 4 under Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, 3 under Khulna Metropolitan Police, 12 under Barishal Metropolitan Police, and 10 under Sylhet Metropolitan Police.

Additionally, 23 cases were filed in Dhaka Range, 11 in Chattogram Range, 7 in Rajshahi Range, 23 in Khulna Range, 7 in Barishal Range, 16 in Sylhet Range, 8 in Rangpur Range, 6 in Mymensingh Range, and 3 in Railway Range.

Charge sheets were submitted in 142 of these cases. In the remaining 17 cases, final reports stated that while the incidents had occurred, the accused could not be identified.

A total of 961 people were arrested in the cases, and charge sheets were filed against 1,072 individuals.

According to police data, trials have been completed in 94 of the 159 cases, with 334 people sentenced to various terms. Currently, 55 cases with 386 accused are pending trial. A total of 349 people were acquitted in concluded cases. Twenty-seven accused were sentenced to death, with eight executions already carried out. A total of 358 people were acquitted and 133 are out on bail.

After the series of bombings, further militant attacks occurred across the country, killing 30 people including judges and lawyers, and injuring over 400.

On October 3, 2005, militants bombed courts in Chattogram, Chandpur and Lakshmipur, killing three and injuring at least 50, including judges.

Days later, a bomb attack targeted Judge Biplab Goswami of the Speedy Trial Tribunal in Sylhet, injuring him and his driver.

On November 14, a suicide bomb attack targeted a vehicle carrying judges in Jhalakathi, killing judges Jagannath Pande and Sohel Ahmed of the Jhalakathi District Judge's Court.

On November 29, major militant attacks occurred in Gazipur and Chattogram. A suicide bomber dressed as a lawyer blew himself up at the Gazipur Bar Association library, killing 10 people including lawyers. On the same day, JMB militants detonated bombs at the Chattogram court premises, killing Police Constable Rajib Barua and a civilian, and injuring around 50 people.

On March 30, 2007, the death sentences of six top JMB leaders — Sheikh Abdur Rahman, his second-in-command Siddiqul Islam (Bangla Bhai), military commander Ataur Rahman Sani, ideologue Abdul Awal, Khaled Saifullah and Salauddin — were executed in the case over the murder of the two judges in Jhalakathi.