Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ News / World/  Bangladesh eatery Lake Terrace bans foreigners fearing extremist attack
BackBack

Bangladesh eatery Lake Terrace bans foreigners fearing extremist attack

An upscale Bangladeshi restaurant Lake Terrace has banned foreign guests, fearing a repeat of last year's deadly terrorist attack in a Dhaka cafe

Five armed young men entered the Holey Artisan Bakery last year in the city’s diplomatic quarters and killed at least 22 people, mostly foreigners, after taking them hostage. Photo: AFPPremium
Five armed young men entered the Holey Artisan Bakery last year in the city’s diplomatic quarters and killed at least 22 people, mostly foreigners, after taking them hostage. Photo: AFP

Dhaka: An upscale Bangladeshi restaurant has banned foreign guests, fearing a repeat of last year’s deadly terrorist attack in a Dhaka cafe, the owner said on Thursday.

Lake Terrace, a reputed rooftop barbeque restaurant in the capital’s northern Uttara neighbourhood, put a notice at its entrance saying no foreigners were welcome.

Shah Tanzil, the owner of Lake Terrace, said the order had come from his landlord.

“We had no choice but to follow the landlord’s instruction," he told AFP.

“We are ashamed. But we cannot suddenly shut down our business as it’s our bread and butter."

The landlord of the five-storey building told local English newspaper, The Daily Star, he feared foreigners were the primary targets of the extremists.

“Who would take the responsibility if something bad happens?" he told the daily, on condition of anonymity.

Five armed young men entered the Holey Artisan Bakery last year in the city’s diplomatic quarters and killed at least 22 people, mostly foreigners, after taking them hostage.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack, although the government blamed a homegrown Islamist extremist organisation.

The move to close the cafe to foreigners comes after a fresh warning apparently from an IS operative who said the group was expanding its operations in Bangladesh.

The US-based monitoring group SITE said Abu Shofiq Al Bengali had posted a message on Wednesday, warning of a “strong trained brigade of thousand brothers" in Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Indian state of West Bengal.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite force fighting militancy in the Muslim-majority nation, said they were investigating the authenticity of the post.

“We are verifying the statement, whether it is credible," RAB spokesman Mufti Mahmud Khan told AFP.

Bangladeshi has seen a spate of fatal attacks on foreigners, secular rights activists and religious minorities in recent years.

The Holey Bakery cafe attack led to a major crackdown on Islamist militants, nearly 70 of whom have been shot dead by security forces.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
More Less
Published: 06 Jul 2017, 04:30 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App