Published: July 1, 2025, 07:59 PM
Nearly a decade after Bangladesh’s deadliest terror attack, justice remains elusive as Supreme Court verdict still pending; High Court commutes death sentences of seven convicts to life imprisonment, reigniting national debate.
Today marks the ninth anniversary of the devastating Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Gulshan, Dhaka — one of the deadliest militant assaults in Bangladesh’s history. On the night of July 1, 2016, five armed militants from the Neo-JMB group stormed the upscale café and executed 22 individuals, including foreign nationals and two police officers.
The tragedy not only sent shockwaves through Bangladesh but also drew international condemnation and triggered a major overhaul in the country’s counter-terrorism strategy. However, nearly a decade later, justice remains incomplete as the final verdict is still pending in the Supreme Court.
Seven men convicted of plotting the attack were initially sentenced to death in 2019 by the Dhaka Anti-Terrorism Tribunal. But in a dramatic turn, the High Court commuted those sentences to life imprisonment on October 30, 2023 — a decision grounded in legal technicalities.
The 229-page judgment, published only recently on June 18, 2025, concluded that the convicts had not directly participated in the killings. Instead, they were found guilty of conspiracy and planning — charges which, the court said, did not justify capital punishment under the applicable law.
The seven convicted and now serving life terms are:
Defense lawyers have stated their intention to appeal to the Supreme Court for further sentence reductions. Meanwhile, the state has yet to clarify whether it will contest the High Court’s commutation.
The High Court ruling acknowledged the “cruel and brutal” nature of the attack, which killed 20 civilians and two police officers. It noted that the incident severely harmed Bangladesh’s global image and left deep psychological scars on the nation. However, the justices concluded that the legal provisions invoked by the trial court did not align with the role of the accused in the attack.
“A death sentence cannot be justified solely based on conspiracy and planning,” the court stated in its observation.
The events of July 1, 2016, unfolded inside a popular bakery in Dhaka’s diplomatic enclave. Armed assailants held dozens hostage overnight, executing many of them with knives and guns. Among the dead were nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, two Bangladeshi nationals, and two brave police officers who died during the initial standoff.
The siege ended with a swift military operation that killed all five attackers. The attack stunned the world and exposed growing militant threats within the country.
In the aftermath, Bangladesh launched a nationwide crackdown on extremist networks. Dozens of suspected militants were killed in raids, and the case against the plotters moved through the judicial system. Yet, despite the tribunal ruling in 2019 and the High Court’s decision in 2023, the legal process is far from over.
As families of the victims observe another painful anniversary, many are left wondering when full justice will be delivered.
The final chapter now lies in the hands of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court — where the country waits for closure, and where history will ultimately deliver its verdict.
