Today marks the ninth anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, Dhaka. The tragedy, which occurred on July 1, 2016, remains one of the most heartbreaking incidents in the history of Bangladesh.
According to sources, the Holey Artisan Bakery, located at House No. 5, Road No. 79, Gulshan-2, was bustling that evening with both local and foreign guests enjoying food and conversation.
Around 9 PM, a group of armed youths stormed the restaurant, began searching for foreign nationals, and opened fire indiscriminately, spreading panic throughout the area. A total of 29 people, including two police officers and both Bangladeshi and foreign nationals, lost their lives in the attack.
In response, the Bangladesh Army’s Para-Commando unit launched a rescue operation named “Operation Thunderbolt”, during which the attackers — Rohan Ibn Imtiaz, Nibras Islam, Meer Saameh Mubasheer, Shafiqul Islam Uzzal, and Khairul Islam Payel — were killed.
Following the incident, police filed a case at Gulshan Police Station. The investigation was led by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
After four years of investigation, the police submitted a charge sheet against eight individuals: Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Rashedul Islam alias Rash, Sohel Mahfuz, Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan, Hadisur Rahman Sagar, Shahidul Islam Khaled, and Mamunur Rashid Ripon. Of these, Khaled and Ripon were absconding.
Later, Boro Mizan was discharged from the case. On November 27, 2020, the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal in Dhaka, presided over by Judge Md. Mojibur Rahman, sentenced the remaining seven accused to death.
However, after the death reference, appeals by the convicts, and jail appeals, the High Court issued its verdict on October 10, 2023. The bench of Justice Shahidul Karim and Justice Md. Mostafizur Rahman commuted the death sentences and sentenced all seven accused to life imprisonment.
The seven convicts are: Rakibul Hasan Regan, Md. Jahangir Hossain alias Rajib Gandhi, Aslam Hossain, Hadisur Rahman, Abdus Sabur Khan alias Sohel Mahfuz, Mamunur Rashid Ripon and Shariful Islam Khaled