Those who could cite Quran were spared: Gulshan attack victim’s family

Rashidul Hasan

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.”

Splinters killed Rabiul, Salauddin: Doctor

Assistant commissioner of the Detective Branch of Police, Rabiul Islam. Photo: Collected

Star Online Report

Police officers Rabiul Islam and Salauddin Khan, who were injured during standoff with gunmen last evening, died of splinter injuries, doctors said.

Officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station, Salahuddin Khan. Photo: Courtesy

Islam, assistant commissioner of the Detective Branch of Police, and Khan, officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station, bled excessively after the attack, said Dr Sohel Mahmud, assistant professor of forensic and medicine department of Dhaka Medical College who conducted autopsies of the two victims.
Splinters hit Rabiul in his right chest while Salauddin suffered splinter injuries in his throat, the doctor said.

Facebook activates safety check after Gulshan attack

 

Star Online Report

Facebook has activated safety check feature so that people in Dhaka can let their friends and family know if they are safe after gunmen took hostage at a Spanish restaurant in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone.
In an unprecedented turn of events last night, gunmen held hostage dozens of people inside a popular hangout for foreigners in the capital's diplomatic zone of Gulshan, and fired shots and hurled bombs at law enforcers.
After 12 hours, army commandoes brought to end the hostage situation, rescuing at least 13 people.
In similar attacks and natural disasters, Facebook's Safety Check prompts people in the region to mark themselves as "safe."
In addition to themselves, people can enquire if other friends are "Safe," "Unsafe," or "Not in the area."