Terror-hit Dhaka bakery returned to property owner

Four-months after Bangladesh’s worst terror attack on an upscale cafe here in the capital’s diplomatic enclave, authorities have returned the eatery – where 22 people, including an Indian girl, were killed during a bloody siege by Islamist militants.

The police handed over the Holey Artisan Bakery to the owner of the plot, Samira Ahmed, on Sunday, following a court order, DMP Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said. Samira’s husband along with his friends had started the Holey Artisan Bakery in 2014.

The cafe in Dhaka’s diplomatic district was popular with foreigners because of its food, lakeside view and sprawling grass-lawn. The cafe was attacked by a group of militants on July 1, who took around 30 people, mostly foreigners, hostage in the cafe. 

The militants killed 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, before the army stormed the cafe early next morning, and killed five militants to free the remaining hostages.