July 2016 Dhaka attack

On the night of 1 July 2016, at 21:20 Bangladesh Standard Time, five terrorists took hostages and opened fire on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan Thana jurisdiction in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The terrorists entered the bakery with crude bombs, machetes, pistols, and took several dozen hostages. In the immediate response, while Dhaka Metropolitan Police tried to regain control of the bakery, two police officers were shot dead by the assailants.

29 people were killed, including 20 hostages, two police officers, five terrorists, and two bakery staff. After the police failed to breach the bakery and secure the hostages, they set up a perimeter along with the Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh. Very early on 2 July, it was decided that the Bangladesh Armed Forces would launch a counter-assault named Operation Thunderbolt.