Residents of Bangladesh terror attack zone protest in silence

The July 1 terror attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in the diplomatic heart of capital Dhaka has made the lives of the residents “strangely different”. They are now passing their time between mourning and fighting their fears.

The attack on the cafe located at Sector 2, Road 79 in Gulshan, took place a week ago on Friday. Terrorists armed to the teeth had barged into the upscale eatery, a favourite hangout for foreigners, and took several guests hostage.

A commando operation ended the 12-hour standoff and rescued 13 hostages, yet the world watched in shock and horror as 20 blood-soaked disfigured dead bodies were recovered from the cafe. Seventeen of them were of the foreigners—nine Italians, seven Japanese and one Indian.

Security agencies including the RAB have been patrolling the area since the unprecedented attack took place.

A two-hour stroll along Road 79 on Friday revealed a desolate Holey Artisan Bakery and O’ Kitchen, its usual happy hubbub was deafeningly absent.

Chairs lay in sixes and sevens on the first floor corridor. It seemed as though some wild beast had rummaged the place without mind or mercy.

A group of Japanese journalists at the scene felt the same way.

A bouquet with names of some of the victims from the cafe attack is placed on a police barricade at Gulshan which turned into a makeshift memorial on Sunday. Photo: asif mahmud ove

In the morning, two of them managed to record the cafe interiors with permission from police, said Takaharu Yagi, Senior International Correspondent of The Asahi Shimbun.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, he said that he had not yet received permission. “Two correspondents from Nippon TV have managed to access the premises and have captured some footage of the things lying after that day’s attack.”

Watching from the lakeside, Holey Artisan with all the furniture thrown around, gives one the impression of a haunted house.

The cafe has been sealed off by security agencies since the attack. So is the walkway that bifurcates the lake and was used by hundreds of foreigners to take a stroll.

The east quarters of the Baridhara-Gulshan lake is called Baridhara area while the west is known as Gulshan.

Baridhara UN Road No. 6 resident Monirul Hasan’s house offers an easy view of the cafe.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, Hasan, an engineer, remembers catching a glimpse of “12/13 foreigners Friday afternoon last week” and adds, “today, I see it is a deserted place.”

“The way the terrorists have taken the lives of innocent people, do you think they will not be destroyed? Sad. We could do nothing for our friends and foreigners,” he said.

Hassan continued, “Last week’s terror attack has cast a shadow on Eid celebrations. Family members wear a withered look. Not only this, you will observe none of the people residing in the Baridhara-Gulshan area have any joy in their hearts…”

People pour out in large numbers near the barricade adjacent to the cafe. Candles and flowers in hand, they mourn the dead in silence.

One Maria Jolly from Italy came with a bouquet with the words “Forgive us friend, we are...” written on it.

Gulshan resident ‘Maksuda’ stood silently near the barricade. With a floral wreath in hand and head bowed down, it seemed she was making a silent prayer. And in her silence as if she was registering a protest – a silent protest.