Today marks nine years since the Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in Bangladesh’s history. On July 1, 2016, five armed men stormed the café, killing 22 people, including 17 foreigners, two police officers, and three Bangladeshis. Most of the victims were executed after being held hostage for hours.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility, though the government denied its involvement and held the domestic militant group Neo-JMB responsible. A counterterrorism operation led by the military ended the siege the following morning, killing all five attackers.
In 2019, a Dhaka court sentenced seven individuals to death for aiding the attackers. However, appeals are still pending, and questions remain about gaps in the investigation, delayed trials, and broader accountability.
The attack left lasting impacts on Bangladesh’s international image, diplomatic community, and sense of public safety. Security was heightened across major cities in the years that followed, especially in diplomatic zones and religious institutions.
Nine years later, survivors, families of victims, and rights groups continue to demand transparent justice, long-term deradicalization efforts, and acknowledgment of institutional failures that allowed the attack to happen.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 