Six Bangla militants executed

DHAKA: Six of the seven Jamaatul Mujaheedin Bangladesh (JBM) militants convicted of carrying out a string of bomb blasts two years ago and killing two judges were executed early on Friday.

"All the six convicts who faced the trial in person were executed in the early hours today," Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad said.

The police chief said bodies of the militants were sent to their village homes under heavy security escorts after their pre-dawn execution in three different jails, all out of the capital Dhaka.

Authorities stepped up security across the country to face any violent backlash by the militant remnants. President Iajuddin Ahmed last month rejected the mercy petitions by the JMB kingpins removing the last barrier for their hanging.

"An intensified security vigil was already in force while it was beefed up after the execution of the militants," the police chief said.

Shaikh Rahman was hanged at the Comilla Jail in eastern Comilla district, his deputy Siddiqul Islam alias 'Bangla Bhai' and Abdul Awal were executed in northern Mymensingh district jail, Saifullah was hanged in northern Pabna Jail and Suny and Mamun were executed at newly built Kashimpur prison in suburban Gazipur.

The seventh outlawed militant, Asadul Islam Arif, sentenced to death after his trial in absentia is on the run.

The seven were sentenced to death for the 2005 murder of two judges in south-western Jhalakathi district.

Security personnel recently arrested a number of JMB men with weapons as well as explosives as they vowed to establish Islamic rule of their brand carrying out a series of blasts across Bangladesh.