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2005 JMB bomb blasts: 17 August black day remembered
Published : Monday, 17 August, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
Monday (August 17) marks the dark anniversary of the August 17, 2005 synchronized series bomb blasts executed by militant group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) across 63 districts in Bangladesh.
The near-simultaneous explosions targeted approximately 450 locations nationwide, including courts, airports, the US Embassy, and offices of district administrators and police superintendents.
Munshiganj was the only district spared in the coordinated attacks that left two people dead and over 104 injured.
According to Police Headquarters and RAB, law enforcement agencies filed 159 cases immediately after the blasts. These included 18 cases under DMP, 8 under CMP, 4 under RMP, 3 under KMP, 12 under BMP, 10 under SMP, 23 in Dhaka range, 11 in Chittagong 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 under Railway police range.
Investigators submitted charge sheets in 142 cases, while final reports were filed in 17 cases where allegations were found true but suspects could not be identified.
Police arrested 961 individuals in connection with the bombings and charged 1,072 people in court.
Courts have so far completed trials in 94 out of the 159 cases, convicting 334 accused to various prison terms. A total of 55 cases involving 386 suspects remain pending for trial, while 5 cases in Dhaka are at the final stage of witness testimony.
Trials led to the acquittal of 358 people, relief for 349 others, while 133 accused are currently out on bail. Courts handed down capital punishment to 27 militants, 8 of whom have already been executed.
On March 30, 2007, six top JMB leaders - Shaykh Abdur Rahman, Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, Ataur Rahman Sunny, Abdul Awal, Khaled Saifullah, and Salauddin - were executed for the murder of two judges in Jhalakathi.
Militant attacks following the August 17 blasts claimed 30 lives, including judges and lawyers, and injured over 400 people in late 2005. On October 3, 2005, militants bombed courts in Chittagong, Chandpur, and Lakshmipur, killing three and injuring 50, including a judge.
Days later, Sylhet Speed Trial Tribunal Judge Biplob Goswami and his driver were injured in a bomb attack. On November 14, suicide bombers targeted a vehicle carrying judges in Jhalakathi, killing District Judges Jagannath Panre and Sohel Ahmed.
The deadliest strikes occurred on November 29, 2005, at the Gazipur Bar Association library and the Chittagong court premises. A suicide bomber disguised as a lawyer detonated explosives inside the Gazipur library, killing 10 people, including lawyers and the bomber.
On the same day, a suicide attack at Chittagong court killed police constable Rajib Barua and a bystander, injuring nearly 50 others.
Further blasts occurred on December 1, 2005, near the Gazipur DC office gate, killing agricultural officer Abul Kashem and injuring 40. On December 8, a suicide bombing outside the Udichi office in Netrokona killed eight people, including two local culture activists, and injured over 100 others.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
