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Caught in the eye of the storm
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cafe on July 1, 2016. The attack claimed 22 lives, including nine Italians, seven Japanese and an Indian.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star, Jahangir, now working as an additional deputy commissioner (Gulshan division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, recounts, “Initially, our plan was to assess the situation and work out a strategy accordingly. However, upon hearing the desperate plea of a man, we made the decision to enter the premises and initiate a rescue operation.”
The entrance of the Holey Artisan Bakery appeared partially open but the voice seemed to emanate from the side of the clinic. “That’s why we cautiously slunk towards the clinic,” Jahangir says.
Jahangir and his team rescued the man who was later identified as the driver of Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, one of three Bangladeshis killed inside the cafe that night.
“While rescuing the man, we encountered no resistance from the side of the clinic. It was at that moment we realised the attackers were inside the cafe.”
Jahangir and his team proceeded to enter the cafe. Adjacent to the entrance was a lawn, eerily empty.
“As we cautiously moved towards the cafe, we noticed a gas cylinder placed at the entrance. It dawned on us that this was not an ordinary criminal attack but the work of well-trained terrorists,” Jahangir continues.
Feeling a surge of fear, Jahangir realised they were trapped in a perilous situation as several high-ranking police officers followed the SWAT team.
On the evening of July 1, the then DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia was attending a programme in Gulshan. When the shooting incident was reported instantly within the force, he, along with a team of additional commissioners, joint commissioners and deputy commissioners, rushed to the spot and trailed behind the SWAT team to get a clear picture of what was going on.
Jahangir promptly gestured for everyone to retreat, lowering his weapon and raising his hands in the air.
“I spoke loudly to the senior police officers, urging them to exit. I said that we could engage with the armed men inside the cafe later, hoping that those inside could hear me,” he explains.
The high-ranking officers began to retreat slowly. Jahangir’s team divided into two groups and ensured their safe evacuation.
The unimaginable struck them soon after. A grenade lay in their path. Jahangir and his team figured it out later that the grenade was somehow dislodged from a flower tub where it was originally planted.
“One of my team members, Sub-Inspector Sujon Kundo, spotted it and motioned to me,” Jahangir recounts.
Jahangir instantly instructed Sujon to defuse the grenade.
Sujon, known for his bravery, bent over the explosive and instructed others to move away from him. Unfortunately, the grenade’s pin got removed, resulting in a deafening explosion.
The explosion caused severe injuries to Jahangir and his entire team. Sujon bore the brunt of the blast and was left critically wounded. “We were all left in a state of shock and disbelief, overwhelmed by the impact of the blast and shrapnel,” Jahangir recalls.
At least 11 to 12 other officers were injured by the explosion. Among them were Rabiul Karim, an assistant commissioner of the detective branch, and Salahuddin Ahmed, an officer-in-charge.
Tears welled up in Jahangir’s eyes as he spoke of Rabiul, his batchmate.
Rabiul suffered a lung injury while Salahuddin was struck in the neck. Both of them succumbed to their injuries within half an hour after they were taken to the hospital.
Some high-ranking officers were also wounded in the blast. Medical teams were summoned and all the injured were swiftly transported to the hospital.
Taking refuge in a nearby building’s garage, Jahangir accompanied the DMP commissioner, who also was in a state of shock.
In the following hours, senior officers convened meetings and strategised their response to the crisis. After discussions with the prime minister, a para-commando team was deployed to conduct the rescue operation.
Eventually, after a gruelling 12-hour operation, the commandos gained control of the building, putting an end to the siege.
Memories fade. But the night of July 1 has not evaporated from Jahangir’s mind even a bit. It comes back to him and leaves him shaken every now and then.
Although he finds the events that transpired to be horrendous, he feels lucky that he made it through the night. He also feels a sense of pride that he could play his part as a police officer on that night.