A Bangladeshi tribunal on Wednesday handed down death sentences to five militants from the banned JMB outfit, including a former navy soldier, for a bomb attack at a mosque inside a major navy installation near southeastern port city of Chattogram seven years ago.
Chattogram Anti-Terrorism Tribunal Judge Abdul Halim pronounced the verdict as four of the five convicts were on the dock, court officials said.
The fifth militant was tried in absentia as he was on the run. All the convicts belonged to outlawed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
Pronouncing the death sentences, the judge also imposed a penalty of Tk 50,000 (USD 526 approx) on each of them.
In his observation, the judge commented that the convicts' act of terrorism inside a naval base tantamount to attack on Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty, belittling those who were engaged to guard the country's maritime boundary.