Bangladesh hangs six Islamic militant leaders

Dhaka, Mar 30 (UNI) Bangladesh hanged six Islamic militant leaders early today for launching bomb and suicide attacks for establishment of Islamic rule in the country.

Islamic outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman, his second-in-command Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai and four others were executed in different district jails in tight security, police said.

The hanging was executed by the jail authorities a week after the President rejected the mercy petitions of the six JMB militants.

The JMB militants who oppose existing British-made court and legal system and want the introduction of Islamic law (Sharia law) based on the Quran, launched synchronized bomb attacks at government offices and courts in 63 districts on August 17, 2005.

Later, they killed two senior judges in southern Jhalkathi district on November 14, 2005 in a suicide bomb attack. Shaikh Rahman and six others were sentenced to death in the Jhalkathi judges' killing case.

In August last year, the High Court confirmed the death sentences awarded by the trial court and later the Supreme Court upheld the High Court verdict by dismissing the condemned prisoners' appeal application.

UNI