A Chittagong court yesterday sentenced two leaders of outlawed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to jail in a case filed against them under Explosive Substances Act.

They are JMB Chittagong divisional second-in-command Rafiqul Islam alias Javed and Chittagong divisional commander of the outfit Javed Iqbal alias Mohammad.

Judge Shafiqul Karim of Chittagong Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal awarded 20 years rigorous imprisonment to Rafiqul Islam while three years to Javed Iqbal.

A team of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) recovered two packets containing 600 grams of gunpowder from the residence of Rafiqul in the city’s

Nasirabad area immediately after his arrest on December 15,2005.

Sub-Inspector Abu Raihan of Rab-7 filed a case with Pahartali Police Station under explosive Substances Act the same day against Rafiqul, Javed Iqbal, Shaikh Abdur Rahman, Siddiqui Islam alias Bangla Bhai and JMB operation wing chief Ataur Rahman Sunny.

Charge sheet was submitted to the court on March 9, 2006 while the charges were framed on August 28, 2007. The court recorded statements of 18 witnesses during the trial of the case.

The tribunal exempted Shaikh Abdur Rahman, Bangla Bhai and Sunny from the charges as they were executed in Jalakathi Judges' murder case in2007.