The latest ambience of Bangladesh perfectly exemplifies the consequences of unchecked violence in a country. Despite repeated attacks by Islamic militants, the government turned a blind eye for almost year now. The traditionally moderate Muslim-majority nation has seen machete-wielding men singling out individual activists, foreigners and religious minorities in recent months.
The Bangladeshi forces stormed an upscale Dhaka restaurant earlier on Saturday to end a hostage-taking by heavily armed militants. According to reports, they killed six of the attackers and rescued 13 captives including foreigners.
The military said 20 hostages were killed during the 10-hour standoff, and a survivor’s father said the attackers spared people who could recite verses from the Quran.
Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni told media that nine Italians were killed, and India’s government confirmed an Indian woman was killed. The overall toll of 28 dead included two police officers who were killed at the start of the attack.
About 35 people were taken hostage Friday night when gunmen stormed the popular Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, a diplomatic zone, during the Ramadan holy month.
Paramilitary troops who mounted the rescue operations in the morning killed six attackers and recovered explosive devices and sharp weapons from the scene, Brigadier General Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdhury said. He did not identify the hostages.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, and she said security officials arrested one of the militants.
“Because of the effort of the joint force, the terrorists could not flee. Anyone who believes in religion cannot do such act. They do not have any religion, their only religion is terrorism,” said she.
Japan’s government has said that a Japanese hostage was rescued with a gunshot wound but seven others are unaccounted for. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activity online. The
pan’s government said a Japanese hostage was rescued with a gunshot wound but seven others are unaccounted for. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activity online. The Amaq news agency, affiliated with IS, also posted photos purportedly showing hostages’ bodies. The authenticity of the images could not be confirmed.
Although the government has not directly commented on the IS claim of responsibility but it has denied in the past that the extremist group based in Syria and Iraq has a presence in Bangladesh, instead blaming the recent attacks on its political enemies.
The recent attacks in Bangladesh have raised fears that religious extremists are gaining a foothold in the country, despite its traditions of secularism and tolerance.
Around two dozen atheist writers, publishers, members of religious minorities, social activists and foreign aid workers have been slain since 2013. On Friday itself, a Hindu temple worker was hacked to death by at least three assailants in south-west Bangladesh. IS and al-Qaeda affiliates have claimed responsibility for many of these attacks.
Hasina’s government has cracked down on domestic radical Islamists by making scores of arrests. It has accused local terrorists and opposition political parties—especially the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its Islamist ally Jamaat-e-Islami—of orchestrating the violence in order to destabilise the nation, which both parties deny.
