Dhaka: The trial in the sensational Holey Artisan café attack case is set to begin on December 3 as a  tribunal here on Monday framed charges against eight ‘militants’ in the case.

Dhaka Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal Judge Mohammad Mujibur Rahman passed the order and fixed December 3 for recording the statements of the witnesses, reports the UNB.

Among the eight accused, six are now in jail while two others are absconding.

The six accused are Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, Mahmudul Hasan Mijan, Sohel Mahfuz, Rashidul Islam alias Ryash, Boro Mijan and Hadisur Rahman Sagor. 

The two absconding accused are Mamunur Rashid Ripon and Shariful Islam Khaled.

On July 23, police pressed charges against eight people in the Holey Artisan cafe attack case.

Hasnat Karim, a North South University teacher who was one of the hostages and later detained, has been relieved from the charges since there was no evidence of his complicity with the attack, according to the police.

The terrorist attack that shattered the country and drew global attention, claimed lives of 22 people—nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi-born American and two Bangladeshis along with two police officers—on 1 July 2016.

Twenty-one people were identified to be behind the attack. Among them, 13 were killed in gunfights at different times.