The location of Holy Artisan Bakery was situated on the bank of Gulshan Lake of in the posh area of Gulshan-2, Road no. 79. This restaurant was always humming with the visits of aristocrat, moneyed and foreigners particularly in the evening time. The Friday evening fell quietly at the Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1, one of the last days of Ramadan in 2016.
But soon the ritzy eatery in the posh Gulshan neighbor hood would be buzzing with activities -- guests ordering coffee, croissants, bagels, pizzas and pastries and a staff of about 20 rushing to serve the diners.
The two-storey Western-style café, with large windows and a manicured lawn, was a favorite hangout for both expatriates and Bangladeshis.
The kitchen chefs and stewardesses were busy preparing and serving foods. Conversations were flying around amid the clink of the cutlery. No one had the slightest idea that they would face the worst nightmare anyone can ever have.
Around 8.45 pm, five youths, each with a backpack, appeared at the restaurant’s main gate. As they were entering it, guard inquired about their identities.
They stormed the premises, shouting “Allahu Akbar!”.
The worst-ever hostage crisis would then unfold before the nation. The countrymen stood aghast at the extent of terror not seen in Bangladesh ever before.
The chilling siege ended after around 12 hours, but brought shockingly grim news for the country and beyond: nine Italians, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, one Bangladeshi-American and one Indian are dead.
The Italians were the first victims of the mindless firing. Then the militants shot other foreigners dead. They used the victims’ phones to publish images of the bodies on social media.
Law enforcers could not initially fathom the gravity of the situation. As they tried to close in on the place, the gunmen opened fire and hurled grenades, sending a wave of panic in the high-security area. Two police officers were killed in the attack.
When Para commandos began their drive codenamed “Operation Thunderbolt” and stormed the restaurant, they found traces of mindless butchery. Twenty hostages, including 17 foreigners, were brutally murdered with the café’s floor strewn with the bodies.
In the whole biggest terror attack in the country, 24 people were killed. Of them 17 were foreigners. The dead included 9 Italians, 7 Japanese, one Indian. Besides, one was a dual citizen of Bangladesh –USA, two Bangladeshi citizen, two Holy Artisan employee and two police officials. Five militants were also killed in the incident. At least 20 police men were injured in the incident.
A tribunal in Dhaka will deliver the verdict in the case today (Wednesday),Nov.27 , in less than a year after the trial proceedings began.