Two senior police officials were killed and around 53 people, including several policemen, were injured in an exchange of gunfire between police and gunmen who stormed into a Spanish restaurant in the city’s Gulshan area on Friday night and took inmates hostage. The deceased were identified as assistant commissioner of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Rabiul Islam and officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station Salauddin Khan. Salauddin’s nephew Mishuk Hasan and Rabiul’s father-in-law Shahjahan Miah told reporters at the gate of United Hospital that the police officers succumbed to injuries they suffered in the gunfight. At least 50 of the injured, including Additional Deputy Commissioners of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Sheikh M Maruf Hasan and Ahad, were rushed to the United Hospital. Three other injured — constables Alamgir, 26, and Pradip, 28, and Abdur Razzak, a microbus driver — were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Witnesses said several gunmen barged into Holey Artisan Bakery, which is popular with foreigners, on Road-79 of Gulshan-2 around 8:45pm. An assistant commissioner (patrol) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) told UNB that the gunshots erupted at the restaurant around 9:15pm after police rushed in on information. He said the criminals opened fire and threw grenades at the law enforcers from inside the restaurant, leaving many injured. Restaurant employee Sumon Reza said he was on the first floor when the gunmen barged into the restaurant. He said at least 20 foreigners were inside the eatery when the criminals, maximum eight in number, entered it. Reza said he along with 12-15 other employees went to the rooftop and climbed down outside through pipes. Members of law enforcement agencies, including police, Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh, went to the spot and cordoned off the restaurant. All the surrounding roads were also blocked. Basic Engineering Limited director Hasnat Karim, who along with his wife and son got trapped inside the restaurant, told his family members over mobile phone that they are safe, his uncle Anwar Karim told UNB. Hasnat, however, cried for rescuing them. Meanwhile, a 30-member Navy commando team reached the spot around 1:15 am on Saturday apparently to launch a drive in order to end the hostage crisis. Talking to reporters at the spot around 11:15pm, Rab Director General Benazir Ahmed said several gunmen barged into the restaurant after evening. Benazir said they would try to talk to the criminals and resolve the problem in a peaceful manner as it is their first choice. He also called upon television channels not to telecast the drive live in the national interest. Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque visited the injured at United Hospital. –UNB, Dhaka.
