In mourning, in tears
The morning sky was cloudy after the overnight downpour as if to tell humanity to cry for the souls of those killed in the unprecedented terror attack that has numbed the nation.
People walked in silence towards the coffins at the Army Stadium and placed floral wreaths; their hearts filled with deep sorrow as the nation paid tribute to the 22 victims of the Holey Artisan Bakery tragedy on the second day of the national mourning.
Some of them cried and others fought back their tears, making the ambience of the stadium heavy. But they were resolute to turn their sorrows into strength to fight militancy.
From the prime minister of Bangladesh to the diplomats of different countries to the relatives of the victims of the Gulshan cafe to commoners, all were in sombre mood.
"The whole world is crying out not just for Dhaka, but for Afghanistan, for Iraq and for Turkey," said Agnes Barolo, an Italian.
"We need peace, nothing but peace. I also pray for those who committed those crimes because we need peace in the world," said a crying Agnes, also the wife of Gowher Rizvi, the foreign affairs adviser to the prime minister.
May all the people who died rest in peace, she prayed.
Three caskets -- two of Bangladeshi nationals Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain and Ishrat Akhond and one Bangladesh-origin US citizen Abinta Kabir -- were taken to the stadium from the Combined Military Hospital in the morning and were kept on a raised podium.
Two caskets were covered with the Bangladesh national flag and the other with Bangladesh and US flags.
The background of the podium was put up with the flags of five countries -- Bangladesh, India, Italy, Japan and the US -- in memory of the nationals killed in the terror attack on Friday night.
The body of Indian national Tarishi Jain was flown to India yesterday morning.
The bodies of nine Italians and seven Japanese nationals were not brought to the stadium upon requests of the countries concerned. Repatriation of the bodies was underway.
All the seven Japanese victims had been working to improve the urban traffic situation in Dhaka, according to Shinichi Kitaoka, president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).
At least six of the Italian victims were either running their own garment businesses or were working in the apparel industry.
"The people of Bangladesh deeply mourn for the victims of Holey Artisan Bakery tragedy" read the black banner hung on the top of the makeshift stage.
Wearing a sari with black and white print and a black ribbon on her shoulder, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached the stadium at 10:00am. She placed a floral wreath on the podium.
Afterwards, she stood in solemn silence for a minute to pay respect to the victims. She talked to the relatives of the victims and conveyed sympathy to them. She also talked to envoys of the US, Japan, India and Italy.
Earlier, a floral wreath was placed on behalf of President Abdul Hamid, who is in Bhutan on a state visit.
US Ambassador in Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat, Japanese Ambassador Masato Watanabe, Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Italian Ambassador Mario Palma also paid tributes to the victims.
Relatives, envoys of friendly countries, cabinet members, Awami League and 14-party alliance leaders, BNP leaders, business leaders and the two Dhaka mayors also placed wreaths in respect of the terror victims. Then the podium was kept open for the cross section of people to pay their tributes.
A pall of gloom descended as the bodies were handed over to the family members around 10:40am.
TURN SORROWS INTO STRENGTH
"It is very tragic. We are very sorry," said Yoshihisa Hanada, a Japanese journalist who came to Bangladesh to cover the tragic incident, the first of its kind in the country since independence in 1971.
“I have not expected such a heinous incident in Bangladesh,” he said, hoping such incident would not recur.
Italian journalist Ilario Piagnerelli of RAI News 24 said the people in Italy was in deep shock as this was the highest number of Italians killed in recent years.
"They [Italians] are shocked. Italians are doing business around the world peacefully everywhere you can find them. And they are really loved by the people of the country."
The mourners called for a greater unity in fighting terrorism which is no more a local problem, but a global threat against humanity.
“We are mourning. We have never experienced such a tragedy in a long time. And therefore, it's not the day to talk. We do not have words to express our enormous thought and enormous feeling, except for a great feeling of anger and angst,” said Gowher Rizvi.
"We don't back out in the face of terrorism. We will fight them and fight them everywhere, just as we won our independence in 1971 through a war of liberation. We will fight this terrorist and we will drive them out of our soil," he said.
The Indian high commissioner said, "India, as a friend, as a partner and a neighbour of Bangladesh, is in fight against heinous sort of terrorism.
"This fight is not just yours; it is our fight as well."
Stressing on the need for a national unity, veteran theatre activist Mamunur Rashid said, "A national unity was formed during the Liberation War. I think time has come -- irrespective of our cast, creed and parties -- to form a national unity again against terrorism.
“We have to fight against them [militants] culturally and politically. It is not possible to prevent them by police only, unless social resistance is created.”
Nirmal Rozario, secretary general of Bangladesh Christian Association, said the government has to launch a fair probe into the incident and take proper measures to regain the image of the country.
"Bangladesh has a history of communal harmony. It is our tradition and our pride, and we want the country to remain so. The attack is a blow to such harmonious existence.
"We have to establish peoples' resistance. For this to happen, we have to turn our sorrows into strength,” Nirmal said.
Ulfat Jahan Moon, chairman of Aichi Medical College, said she and her husband did their PhDs in Japan and established a hospital in Bangladesh in cooperation with Japan.
"Any damage to Japan is our damage ... Today we're ashamed, surprised. We've no words to express our condolence.”
She urged every parent to be very careful about their children.
"All the people have to be united the way we got united in 1971 for our liberation. It is time now for another war against militancy and terrorism."
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