The five gunmen, who attacked Gulshan’s Holey Artisan Bakery, shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as they launched the attack on the eatery at the capital’s upscale neighbourhood, a witness told the court.
On Wednesday (Mar 27), Dhaka’s Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal heard the testimony of the Inspector Salahuddin Mia, who was then the in-charge of investigations at the Gulshan police station.
“I rushed to the Holey Artisan Bakery on the night of Jul 1, 2016 after gunshots were reported and found several members of the police, including Sub-Inspector Faruq at the scene. The attackers were screaming Allahu Akbar as they fired and hurled bombs at us,” Mia, who is now the officer-in-charge (OC) of Dhaka’s Shah Ali police station, told the court.
He said that 30-35 police members were injured when the terrorists fired and hurled. “They were taken to a nearby hospital. Soon after, we came to know that the then-Banani police station OC Salahuddin Khan has died,” the police officer said.
Defence counsel Faruq Ahmed cross-examined the witness before the court adjourned for the day, fixing Apr 3 for the next hearing.
The court has so far heard testimonies of 26 witnesses.
The trial in the 2016 terror attack began in November last year with the indictment of eight suspects.
Six of the accused, Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Rashedul Islam alias Rash, Sohel Mahfuz, Mizanur Rahman alias Baro Mizan and Hadisur Rahman Sagar are in custody.
Suspects Shahidul Islam Khaled and Mamunur Rashid Ripon are still at large.
According to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, all cases under the law must be settled within six months. Those found guilty under the law can face a death sentence or life in prison.
On the night of Jul 1, 2016, a group of five young militants entered the Holey Artisan Bakery and killed 20 people, including 17 foreign nationals and two police officers.
The attack served as a wake-up call regarding militancy in the country and forced a significant change in Bangladesh.
On Jul 23 last year, over two years after the attack, Police Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit Inspector Humayun Kabir identified 21 suspects connected to the attack and submitted charges against the eight living suspects.
The 13 others accused in the case were killed during various security force operations and were recommended to be dropped from the case.
According to the chargesheet, neo-JMB militants had planned the attack for six months. Their intention was to create ‘unrest’ in Bangladesh and transform it into a ‘terrorist state’.