The nation yesterday observed the last day of the two-day mourning in commemoration of those killed during the hostage standoff at a café at the city’s Gulshan are after it came under a terror attack on Friday, reports UNB.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday made the declaration for observing the two-day national mourning in her televised address to the nation in the wake of the grisly attack on the Spanish eatery in the country’s diplomatic zone. On Monday morning, the Prime Minister paid homage to the Gulshan attack victims at Army Stadium in Banani in the capital. The Prime Minister paid tributes by placing wreaths on the coffins of the victims at 10:03am.
The bodies of the victims, who were killed in the barbaric attack by armed terrorists during their 12-hour siege to Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan-2 area of the capital from Friday evening to Saturday morning, were kept at the Army Stadium from 10 am to 12 at noon to facilitate the people of all strata for paying homage to them. Twenty hostages -- nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi American and two Bangladeshis -- were killed in the terror attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan on Friday night. Besides, two senior police officers -- Banani Police Station officer-in-charge Salauddin Ahmed Khan and Detective Branch assistant commissioner Robiul Islam -- were killed when they tried to rescue the hostages.
OC Salauddin was laid to eternal rest at Banani Graveyard in Dhaka, while AC Robiul was buried at his village home in Manikganj.
Earlier at 10:10pm on Sunday, a special aircraft, usually used by Japanese prime minister and royal families, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport carrying 18 relatives of seven Japanese victims.
Among the seven Japanese victims, five are men and two women. Japanese Senior Vice Foreign Minister Seiji Kihara is coordinating the process with the government of
Bangladesh.
The special Japanese aircraft was staying at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to fly back to Tokyo with the bodies and their family members.
A special aircraft from Rome also landed at the airport on Sunday night to take back the bodies of nine  Italian citizens who were killed in the terrorist attack on Friday. After placing the wreaths, the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence to pay respect to the deceased.
A one-minute silence was also observed.
Earlier, wreaths were placed on behalf of President Abdul Hamid, who is now in Bhutan on a state visit.
Three cascades, two of Bangladeshi
nationals Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain and Ishrat Akhond and one of Bangladesh origin US citizen Abinta Kabir were kept on the raised platform.
The background of the podium was put up with the flags of Bangladesh, India, Italy, Japan and the United States in memory of the nationals of these countries fell victims of the terror attack.
Members of the cabinet, PM’s advisers, relatives of the deceased people, parliament members, the chiefs of the three services and leaders of different political parties were present.
Sheikh Hasina talked to the relatives of the deceased and conveyed her sympathy to them. She also talked to envoys of the United States, Japan, India and Italy.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat, Japanese Ambassador Masato Watanabe, Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Italian Ambassador Mario PALMA also paid tributes to the victims.
Relatives of the deceased, ambassadors of the friendly countries, central leaders of Bangladesh Awami League, 14-party alliance, family members of the deceased, police officials and mayors of Dhaka north
and south city corporations and FBCCI leaders followed the Prime Minister in placing wreaths to the terror victims.
Later, the podium was kept open for the cross-section of people to pay their tributes to the deceased.
Earlier on Sunday evening, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote held a candle-lit vigil at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city in memory of those killed in the attack on a Spanish restaurant in the city’s Gulshan area.
Around 100 leaders and activists of the cultural body lighted the candles there around 7:30pm through singing a Rabindranath song.
On Friday evening, seven gunmen stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery and opened fire and took around 40 people, including restaurant staff and guests — both locals and foreigners — hostage.
Twenty hostages — nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi-born American and two Bangladeshis — were killed in the terror attack at the restaurant.
Besides, two senior police officers — Banani Police Station officer-in-charge Salauddin Ahmed Khan and Detective Branch assistant commissioner Robiul Islam — were killed as they tried to rescue the hostages.
Thirteen people, including three foreigners, were rescued while 20 bodies of the hostages were recovered from the restaurant after a successful operation codenamed ‘Thunderbolt’.
Six of the seven gunmen were killed and
one suspected militant was arrested during the drive.