Relatives in frantic search for those caught in Gulshan hostage crisis

While the exact number of hostages trapped inside Gulshan's Holey Artisan Bakery still remains unclear, a host of anxious relatives have made their way to the scene.

Gunmen laid siege to the Spanish restaurant popular with expatriates and the wealthy around 9pm Friday, which eventually escalated into a hostage crisis as millions of eyes around the world turned towards Gulshan on a frantic night of unforeseen plight.

Widespread media reports said the gunmen have taken about 40 people 'hostage' - some 20 of them foreigners - in the diplomatic zone of Dhaka.

According to Reuters, an Italian escaped and told police there were 'seven Italians' still inside.

Arriving at the spot, the upset relatives revealed the identities of some of the others trapped in the café.

Elegant Group Chairman Ruba Ahmed and her family members were looking for her daughter Abanita Kabir, 19. They said Abanita was in the café along with a couple of her friends.

They were unable to get in touch with the girl over the phone as calls to her phone went unanswered.

The grandson of the head of Transcom Group, Faraaz Hussain, 21, too, is thought to be among those trapped. His mother Simin Hossain was in the vicinity along with his relatives.

The managing director of Aftab Group, Shahriar Khan, went there searching for his son, Tahmid, 22, who returned from Canada on Friday and went to the café with his friends after Iftar.

Abdul Khalek was waiting for his son Imam Hossain, an employee at the café.

"The phone keeps ringing, but there is no answer from the other side," Khalek said.

Spells of sporadic gunshots and bomb blasts shattered the peace of the upscale neighbourhood. Two police officers were killed and several others injured and rushed to a hospital after the assailants exchanged gun fire with police outside for several hours after the attack.

Militant style killings of writers, bloggers, publishers, religious minorities and dissidents have been frequent in Bangladesh lately, but an attack of such scale within a high-security area is unprecedented.