Those who could recite a verse from the Quran were spared, others were tortured, said a rescued hostage of the
Gulshan restaurant attack where at least two lawmen were killed.
“The others were tortured by the gunmen,” said Rezaul Karim, father
of Hasnat Karim who was held hostage inside Holey Artisan Bakery in the
diplomatic zone for over 10 hours.
READ MORE: GULSHAN ATTACK LIVE UPDATES
Hasnat Karim, his wife Sharmin Karim and daughter Safa, 13, and
Rayan, 8, went to celebrate Safa’s birthday at the Spanish restaurant in
Gulshan’s Road no-79 last night.
The birthday celebration took a dangerously unprecedented turn when
gunmen stormed into the restaurant and took about 20 people, including
foreigners dining there, hostage.
READ MORE: Bloody end to Dhaka hostage crisis
They were finally rescued after a joint drive of the military,
paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh, police and elite force Rapid
Action Battalion pushed a heavily-manned offensive this morning.
“They (gunmen) did not behave rough with the Bangladesh nationals,”
Reazul said quoting his victim son Hasnat. “Rather they provided night
meals for all Bangladeshis.”
“The gunmen were doing a background check on religion by asking
everyone to recite from the Quran. Those who could recite a verse or two
were spared. The others were tortured.”
According to him, the gunmen were done with the foreign nationals
dining in the eatery by 11:00pm last night. By the end, five gunmen
sustained bullet injuries and “probably died”.
Meanwhile, the family was rushed to Detective Branch office for
further interrogation, according to Hosne Ara, the mother. “We have been
assured that they will be sent home safely.”