Staff Reporter :
Victims confined at the Spanish restaurant in Gulshan, Dhaka shared the dreadfulness of their life, even though for few hours, with their family members through SMS throughout the night, and an uncertainty of life which they never thought of.
The anxious family members narrated to the media how do their near and dear ones suffered during their captivity at the restaurant on Friday night.
Tahmid Khan, son of Shahriar Khan, Managing Director of Islam Group, phoned his father detailing the news of his confinement at the Holey Artisan Bakery around 8:30pm.
“Father, we have been made hostages by a group of misguided gunmen in a restaurant at Gulshan. Please, pray to Allah for us,” said the Aftab Group managing director and it was my last conversation with my beloved son.
A hostage from the restaurant told his family that the gunmen asked the hostages to recite the Quran. Those, who were able to recite, were spared, and those, who could not, were beaten.
Soumir Baroi managed to take shelter inside a toilet of the restaurant and was able to establish contact with his brother Gopal Baroi over cell phone via text message.
Gopal disclosed the text conversation he had with his brother. The test is being mentioned hereunder.
At 10:00pm: In reply to Gopal’s message, Soumir writes, “Me and nephew are fine. (We are) locked in the bathroom”.
Soumir writes again, “What is the situation outside?” To which Gopal replies “RAB is overlooking everything. They are doing all they can do, so that you all are not harmed”.
Soumir goes on writing “Chhoto Mamun (his identity could not be known) knows where our toilet is. We are there. If you can, please break the wall and take us”. Gopal replied: “Switch on your Facebook. Please give me one picture”.
At 2:15am they exchanged a series of texts. Gopal wrote, “Do they know you are in the toilet?”
Soumir: “Yes”.
Gopal: “Are they saying anything to you?”
Soumir: “They don’t want anything. They have locked us”.
Gopal: “Dada, please sit on a side of the toilet. They may fire”.
Soumir: “Yes, we are”.
At 4:58am, Gopal asked: “Dada, how are you now?”
Soumir: “Yeah”.
At 5:28am, Gopal: “We all pray for you so that you come back safe and sound”.
Soumir: “Yes”.
Again at 5:48am: Soumir still trapped inside: “May be RAB will enter now. Please come to the toilet soon. It is painful here”.
At 6:22am, Gopal sent message his brother: “Please say, how you are now?”
There had been no more contact for a long time thereafter. At 7:40am, Armed Forces started an operation. Gopal tried his best to reach his brother. At one stage, he managed to get through the line, but there was no answer.
