Please tell police not to open fire
Staff Reporter
One of the hostages inside the restaurant O Kitchen told his relative that the police should not open fire at the terrorists, as the gunmen would kill them if the law enforcers start firing. Anwarul Karim, a businessman residing in Cantonment area, said that he had received a call from his nephew engineer Hasnat Karim who was inside the restaurant O Kitchen. I got the call at around 10:41 pm. My nephew who went there with his wife and two children called me from inside the restaurant where the hostage situation was going on.
He told me that some gunmen took the people inside the restaurant hostage. His voice was very low and he told me to tell the police not to fire. The gunmen told them that they all will be killed if police keep firing.
Anwarul Karim said Hasnat Karim lives in an apartment in Gulshan, road No-4. I dont know what is going on inside. I tried to talk with the police but they didnt give us any information.
Arif Ul Haque, a resident of Road no-74 of Gulshan, said around 9:50, he was coming back from the mosque.
I heard sound of firing from OKitchen. I didnt know what was happening. I saw some polices running towards the premise of OKitchen. Then I heard a gun shot and I ran away.
Arif said that he buys product from Holey Artisan Bakery, which is also located at the same two storied building.
It sells expensive bakery items. The restaurant OKitchen serves Spanish food. It is being frequented by the foreigners.
Suhrawardi, who lives in a building next to the OKitchen building, said he couldnt enter his house now as the whole area is cordoned.
I was outside. My wife called me and told me that massive firing is going on in the next building. She told me not come to the area.
Meanwhile, police sources said that they are planning to send skilled negotiator there to talk with the captors.
The combined armed forces arrive at around 1:10 am.
