Dhaka – People from different walks of life including political leaders, diplomats and cultural activists on Saturday paid homage to the victims of Holey Artisan Bakery by placing wreath and vowed to eliminate militancy from the country.The placing of wreath began early in the morning and continued till 2:00pm in front of the Holey Artisan Bakery at Road No 79 in Gulshan-2 in the city. The authority kept it open for four hours for visit after a year.
The café came under militant attack on July 1 last year leaving 21 people including nine Italian, seven Japanese, two police officials. Later six militants and an employee of the bakery were killed in army operation.
Placing wreath on behalf of ruling Awami League, party general secretary Obaidul Quader said the government could control the militancy but it could not be eliminated yet.
He said though the Holey Artisan incident changed lives creating panic among the people, police force faces the fundamentalist militants with brave and continues combing operation against them.
“What the France and London police forces could not do (to deal with militancy), our police force has done that,” he said.
Quader, also minister for road transport and bridges, put emphasized the need to face the militancy unitedly saying that it is not possible to control militancy only by the government.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi termed the Gulshan café attack tragic one and a scandal- stigma for progress.
He said network of fundamentalists spread throughout the country and the government should take a total and united effort to eliminate it.
The BNP leader alleged that a smoke-screen situation has been created with militant activities as militant attacks are carrying out when the government claims that it has controlled it.
Additional IGP Mokhlesur Rahman, who placed wreath on behalf of police force, said activities to eliminate IS are going on across the globe.
He hoped that elimination of militancy in the country would be possible very soon.
DMP commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah was present on the occasion.
President of Ekattorer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee Shahriar Kabir said Bangladesh has been successful to curb militancy but the fight to eliminate the militancy should be continued.
Minister for cultural Asaduzzaman Noor said the Holey Artisan incident was a big attack on country’s history and tradition of non-communalism.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Masato Watanabe and Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Bangladesh Takatoshi Nishikata went to Holey Artisan Bakery at about 7:20am and placed wreath in honour of the victims.
A team of Italian Embassy led by Ambassador Mario PALMA placed wreath at about 11:00am.
Humayra, a friend of victim Israt Akand, along with her two other friends, came to the Holey Artisan Bakery in the afternoon and paid homage to the victims.
Besides, several hundred people irrespective of ages and professions thronged in front of the café amid tight security.
Police has restricted the movement of motor vehicles on the three ways to the Holey Artisan.
The gate of the café was closed for visitors after 2:00pm. – StaffReporter
