Today, 17 August, marks the 20th anniversary of the nationwide serial bomb attacks that shook Bangladesh on the same day in 2005.
On the morning of 17 August 2005, at around 11 a.m., court premises across the country trembled as bombs exploded simultaneously in 63 districts, except for Munshiganj.
The attacks, carried out by Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), killed two judges and injured more than 200 people, including lawyers and civilians.
A total of 159 cases were filed in connection with the bombings. Of these, trials in 94 cases have been completed, resulting in the death penalty for 27 individuals, eight of whom have already been executed. Additionally, 334 people received various prison sentences, while 349 were acquitted.
According to case records, JMB carried out the explosions to assert its presence. Two years later, in 2007, the death sentences of six top leaders of the organization were carried out. Specifically, on 30 March 2007, six senior JMB figures—Sheikh Abdur Rahman, his second-in-command Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, military commander Ataur Rahman Sunny, think-tank member Abdul Awal, Khaled Saifullah, and Salahuddin—were executed for their involvement in the killings of two judges in Jhalakathi district.
These attacks remain a grim reminder of the country’s struggle against terrorism and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding public institutions.
