Photo: Collected
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq said although militancy has not been eradicated from the country, it is under control. The dormant seeds of such violent extremism may still be present.
‘We can say it is under control, we must remain vigilant as the latent seeds of militancy may still exist,’ he said on Saturday (1 July) during a conversation with reporters after paying tribute to the two policemen who were martyred in the attack at the Holey Artisan café.
Recalling the horrific militant attack on the night of July 1, 2016, Faruq highlighted the fact that foreign citizens were taken hostage and murdered by militants in the cafe, leading to the tragic loss of two courageous officers' lives during the rescue operation.
Faruq added that specialised units like the Anti-Terrorism Unit, Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime, and Rab are continuously working to combat militants. Additionally, various programmes have been initiated to raise awareness among the public about the dangers of militancy.
On the night of July 1, 2016 five armed men stormed the café, frequented mostly by foreigners and took the diners there as hostage. At one stage they started killing some of the hostages one by one. Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, but the government of Bangladesh vehemently denied any presence of the organisation in the country.
Bangladesh authorities responded with a brutal crackdown on the militants after the gruesome attack.
On November 27, 2019 a special anti-terrorism tribunal sentenced seven people to death for their involvement in the attack. One was acquitted.
TDM/FMT
