‘Hate will never win’

Envoys of various countries to Bangladesh, police officials, people of all walks of life and relatives have paid tributes to those killed in the militant attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in the capital's Gulshan on July 1, 2016.

Marking the fifth anniversary of the heinous militant attack, they also renewed their commitment to fight religious extremism and terrorism.

Five Bangladeshis, one Indian, nine Italian and seven Japanese nationals were killed in the attack at the upscale restaurant.

The deceased include Bangladeshi nationals Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain (20), Ishrat Akhond (45), Abinta Kabir (19), Rabiul Karim (34), Salauddin Khan (49); Indian national Tarishi Jain (19); Italian citizens Marco Tondat (39), Vincenzo D'Allerstro (46), Nadia Benedetti (52), Maria Rivoli (33), Adele Puglisi (50), Claudio Cappelli (45), Christian Rossi (47), Claudia Maria D'antona (56), Simona Monti (33); and Japanese nationals Koyo Ogasawara (56), Makoto Okamura (32), Yuko Sakai (42), Rui Shimodaira (27), Nobuhiro Kurosaki (48), Hiroshi Tanaka (80), and Hideki Hashimoto (65).

The two-story building is not being used as a café or restaurant. It's a residential building that bears no sign of the attack. During a visit, a correspondent of The Daily Star found flower bouquets on a table there.

Due to the coronavirus-related lockdown beginning yesterday, foreign diplomats paid respect to the memories of the victims with floral garlands at the memorial on Wednesday afternoon.

"…We renew our commitment to fight against religious extremism and terrorism," said Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Enrico Nunziata, paying homage to the deceased in a tweet.

"Today is the day of mourning and commemorating the victims of the Holey Artisan Bakery terror attack. Honored to lay wreaths with @italyinbd, @USAmbBangladesh abd @VDoraiswami," tweeted Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Naoki Ito.

"Those Japanese experts were engaged in F/S of Dhaka Metro Line 1, which starts construction work next year," he said.

US Ambassador Earl R Miller said he was honored to join other ambassadors on this solemn occasion to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Holey Artisan Bakery attack.

"The precious lives tragically lost will remain in our hearts today and always."

Paying homage to memories of those killed in the militant attack, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Vikram Doraiswami, said affirmed that "hate will never win".

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh, Rensje Teerink, among others, paid tribute to the memories of the deceased.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam and Rab Director General Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun laid floral wreaths at the murals (at Gulshan Old Police Station Compound) of Detective Branch assistant commissioner Rabiul Karim and Banani Police Station officer-in-charge Salauddin, who were killed by the militants.

Marking the occasion, people from all strata of life in Manikganj paid tribute to the victims, reports our correspondent in Manikganj.

Maintaining health rules, members of police in Manikganj and locals paid their respects at the grave of Rabiul Karim at Katigram Graveyard under Manikganj sadar.

A doa mahmil was also held attended by Rabiul's batchmate Manikganj Sadar Circle additional police superintendent Bhaskar Saha, Khrishnapur Union chairman Biplob Hossain Selim, Beaconing Light Organization of Mankind and Society chairman GR Shawkat Ali and family members.