Special Report: Today, July 1, 2025, marks nine years since the tragic terrorist attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka’s upscale Gulshan neighborhood. The attack, which occurred on the night of July 1, 2016, remains one of the deadliest and most harrowing events in Bangladesh’s history.
According to official sources, on that fateful evening, many local and foreign guests had gathered at Holey Artisan Bakery, located at Road 79, House 5 in Gulshan-2, to enjoy food and conversation. Around 9 PM, a group of young terrorists stormed the cafe and began searching for foreigners. Gunshots rang out, shaking the neighborhood, and chaos ensued.
The attack claimed the lives of 29 people, including two brave police officers and multiple foreign nationals.
Operation Thunderbolt Ends the Siege
Bangladesh Army’s elite Para Commando unit launched ‘Operation Thunderbolt’ to end the siege. During the operation, five attackers—Rohan Ibn Imtiaz, Nibras Islam, Mir Samih Mubashshir, Shafiqul Islam Ujjal, and Khairul Islam Payel—were killed.
In the aftermath, a case was filed at Gulshan Police Station. The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police took charge of the investigation.
Trial and Sentencing of the Attackers
Following a four-year investigation, eight individuals were charged: Jahangir Alam (alias Rajib Gandhi), Rakibul Hasan Rigan, Rashedul Islam (alias Rash), Sohel Mahfuz, Mizanur Rahman (alias Boro Mizan), Hadisur Rahman Sagar, Shahidul Islam Khaled, and Mamunur Rashid Ripon. Khaled and Ripon were shown as fugitives, while the rest were arrested.
The court later acquitted Boro Mizan. On November 27, 2020, Dhaka’s Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal sentenced the remaining seven to death.
After further appeal and review, on October 10, 2023, a High Court bench consisting of Justice Shahidul Karim and Justice Mostafizur Rahman commuted the sentences of the seven accused to life imprisonment.
The convicted are:
- Rakibul Hasan (alias Rigan)
- Md. Jahangir Hossain (alias Rajib Gandhi)
- Aslam Hossain
- Hadisur Rahman
- Abdus Sabur Khan (alias Sohel Mahfuz)
- Mamunur Rashid (alias Ripon)
- Shariful Islam Khaled
Remembering the Victims
Two years after the attack, the building at Road 79, Gulshan-2, was demolished. In its place, a memorial plaque was erected at the entrance to honor the victims.
Each year, the Government of Bangladesh, along with embassies from countries such as Italy and Japan, pays tribute to the victims by laying floral wreaths at the site. Police officials also gather to honor the memory of Assistant Commissioner RabiuI Islam and Banani OC Salahuddin Ahmed, who sacrificed their lives during the operation.