Ramna Batamul carnage case: Dhaka court sentences eight accused to death (Update:Ramna)

A court in Dhaka, Bangladesh, sentenced eight militants to death on Monday for the 2001 Ramna Batamul bomb attack that claimed the lives of ten people and injured 50 others during new year celebrations.

"The attack was carried out to destabilise the country and create panic, "Judge Ruhul Amin said as he delivered the verdict in a crowded court in Dhaka's old city.

The head of the outlawed Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami (HuJI) outfit, Mufti Abdul Hannan, was among the eight who were ordered hanged for targeting the celebrations in Dhaka's main park which they deemed unIslamic.

The judge also sentenced six others to life in prison for setting off two bombs as thousands of revellers were celebrating the first day of Bengali New Year on April 14, 2001.

"It's a heinous attack and unprecedented in our history. We're happy with the eight death sentenced, but not satisfied with the sentencing of six people who were given life terms. We'll appeal against the life sentences," prosecutor Abdullah Abu told reporters after the verdicts were announced.

Faruque Ahmed, the lawyer for the defendants, said he would appeal for justice in a higher court.