Dr Sattya Prakash narrates horrific night of Holey Artisan

Staff Correspondent: Indian citizen Dr Sattya Prakash among two gave deposition in the case filed over the terror attack of Holey Artisan Bakery in the capital’s Gulshan before the Dhaka’s Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal on Tuesday.

After the deposition, Judge Monir Kamal of the court fixed July 9 for next deposition record in the case. The another witness was rickshaw-puller Md Aslam Hossain.

In the deposition, Dr Sattya Prakash said, “I have been residing in Bangladesh since 2002. I went to Holey Artisan Bakery for having meals around 8:30pm on July 1 in 2016. There I took a seat. At the moment, armed terrorists entered the restaurant and started firing.”

“A man sat next to me received bullet injuries. Terrorists came to me and asked if I am Banaladeshi? I told them, yes.  Then told me ‘don’t be afraid, we will not hurt you. They told me to enter my head under the table and sat there. I passed the whole night under the table. Firings were continued for whole the night. I saw many bodies lying in the pool of blood,” he told the court.

With the two, the court recorded depositions of 62 among 211 witnesses in the case.

During the deposition, accused Mamunur Rashid alias Ripon, Shafiqul Islam alias Khaled, key coordinator of the attack Bangladesh-origin Canada citizen Tamim Chowdhury’s associate Aslam Hossain alias Rashed alias Abu Jarra, arms and explosive supplier Neo JMP leader Hadisur Rahman Sagor, Neo JMB’s arms and explosive wing chief Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan, militant Rakibul Hassan Rigan, Jahangir Alam alias Razib alias Razib Gandhi and planner of the attack Abdus Sabur Khan (Hassan) alias Sohel Mahfuz were produced before the court from jail.

Lawyer Faruk Ahmed filed bail petition for Shafiqul Islam alias Khaled. Public Prosecutor of the court Jahangir Alam Chowdhury opposed the bail.

Militants carried out attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in the capital’s Gulshan on July 1, 2016, killing 20 people among 17 foreign nationals. Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Detective Branch (DB) of Police Robiul Islam and Banani Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Salauddin were killed in the attack.

risingbd/Dhaka/July 02, 2019/Mamun Khan/AKA