Attack on UK envoy: HuJI militant Ripon seeks presidential clemency

One of the three death-row convicts in the 2004 grenade attack on the UK envoy, which left three killed, has filed for presidential clemency.

Sylhet Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 27 March 2017, 08:02 AM
Updated : 27 March 2017, 08:22 AM

Harkat-ul-Jiahi Al Islami (HuJI) activist Delwar Hossain Ripon, who is now at the Sylhet Central Jail, has handed over his petition on Monday.

"He signed the petition around 12pm. We have forwarded it to our headquarters in Dhaka," Senior Jail Superintendent Md Sagir Mia said.

On Thursday, when the prison authorities read out the top court's verdict rejecting the review plea, Ripon said that he would seek the president's pardon.

Two others convicted in the same case, banned group HuJI chief Mufti Mohammad Abdul Hannan and Sharif Shahedul Alam alias Bipul are currently at Gazipur’s Kashimpur Jail. Prison authorities indicated on Wednesday that they too would seek pardons.

In May 2004, then British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury came under a grenade attack while coming out of the Hazrat Shahjalal’s shrine in his hometown Sylhet.

Police's Assistant Sub-inspector Kamal Uddin died instantly. Constable Rubel Ahmed and one Habil Miah succumbed to their injuries in a hospital later.

The envoy was injured along with nearly 40 employees of the Sylhet district administration.

In December last year, the Appellate Division upheld their death sentences.

As a last ditch attempt to save themselves, the three filed for a review of their verdict, which was turned down earlier this month.

After losing the last legal option, the three are now left with the only option of seeking presidential clemency by admitting guilt.

If the president rejects their pleas, the government will fix a date and prison authorities will start the process to execute the verdict.