People from all walks of life paid their tributes yesterday to those who had lost their lives in the militant attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan two years ago. The owner of the shop decided to open the bakery premises as a mark of respect to the victims on the second anniversary of the attack. Members of various embassies and international organisations, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Awami League (AL) paid their tributes by 10am amid tight security arrangements. Different organisations and individuals also paid their tributes at the place. Hiroyasu Izumi, Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, paid his tribute to the victims.

After paying tribute to the victims at Holey Artisan Bakery, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said the government was still investigating the tragic and brutal incident. “The police commissioner has told me that the charge-sheet in the case will be produced within a week. Our law enforcement agencies have been trying their best to smother terrorism and militancy, which happen to be global problems. All the terrorist outfits have become weak thanks to the efforts made by the law enforcers. We're quite safe now,” he added.

Earlier, a sculpture called ‘Dipto Sopoth’ was inaugurated by the DMP commissioner near the old Gulshan police station. It has been built to remember the victims of the Holey Artisan tragedy.

The sculpture portrayed assistant commissioner Rabiul Islam and Banani police station officer-in-charge Salauddin Khan, who lost their lives during the Holey Artisan operation

on July 1, 2016. The DMP commissioner told reporters that attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery was a big event in Bangladesh. “We've already resolved the case. Most of the accused in the case were killed in anti-militancy operations. The charge-sheet in the case will be produced this week. It'll be issued against the masterminds behind the attack,” he said. RAB director general Benazir Ahmed paid his tribute to the victims. He said that their operation against militants would continue.

"We managed to suppress the militants within a short time on the day of the Holey Artisan attack. Our anti-militancy operations continuing for the last two years have emphatically shown the whole world that Bangladesh is not a safe haven for militants. The people of Bangladesh will not tolerate militancy,” he added.

The Holey Artisan Bakery was opened on July 1, 2017, to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack.  Currently, the two-storey building is being used as a residence by the owners of the property.

On July 1, 2016, five terrorists attacked the Holey Artisan Bakery. They killed 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, and shot dead two police officers. Army commandos stormed the restaurant the next morning and killed the terrorists.  

A case was filed with Gulshan police on July 4, 2016 and the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit took charge of the investigation. The police found 21 people involved in the attack, starting from its planning and preparation to execution. Of them, 13, including the attackers, were killed in action.