September 11, 2001, attack on Twin Towers in New York. We all remember the paralysing aesthetic of the live image of the attack on the second tower that the global news channels continued for days to air.

She is not related to them. Yet tears were streaming down Saleha Begum's face as she stood at the site of the deadliest terror attack in the country's history. She was among the hundreds who gathered on the old premises of the Holey Artisan Bakery yesterday to pay respect to the memory of those whose lives were cut short by militants at the restaurant a year back.

The country's policing system has been witnessing significant changes in the aftermath of the grisly Holey Artisan attack.

Five militants and a chef, who were killed during the army-led joint forces operation codenamed "Operation Thunderbolt" at Holey Artisan Bakery in the capital's Gulshan last year, were hit by bullets and bomb splinters, according to doctors.

The kind of death Faraaz died in the Gulshan cafe attack a year ago represents the true spirit of Bangladesh and Islam, said leading businessman Latifur Rahman yesterday while remembering his grandson at a milad mahfil held at his Gulshan residence.

Eerie quiet engulfed Gulshan road no 79 since this morning as people slowly make their way to the grounds of the Holey Artisan Bakery, witness to the worst-ever hostage crisis in the country that left 22 people killed including 17 foreigners.

Holey Artisan attack was a watershed event for us – both the society and the state.

On the anniversary of the audacious terrorist attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery, Bangladeshis may ask two questions: “Are we safer today than we were a year before?” and “Where do we go from here?”

On July 1, 2016 Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, Abinta Kabir and Tarishi Jain lost their lives along with 19 other hostages and two police officers in the worst terrorist attack of our history. They were bright young individuals, brilliant students and most of all, the best of friends.

Though law enforcers could eliminate a number of militants through counterterrorism operations over the last one year, they are yet to complete probe into any of the incidents. A massive crackdown on militant networks was launched following the deadly terror attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in the capital's Gulshan on July 1 last year.

It was a quiet afternoon at the Holey Artisan Bakery in the capital's Gulshan on July 1, one of the last days of Ramadan in 2016. As the sun went down, the Western-style café with 19 staffers in the posh neighbourhood got busier. Diners started arriving and ordering tapas, pizzas, croissants, pastries and cakes.

Shakhawat and Shaila were about to go home with their newborn from the clinic on July 1. But they decided to prolong their stay at Lake View Clinic to let the new mother and her baby have the nursing care given by the clinic for another day.

Four security experts have elaborated on the pre-Holey Artisan attack militancy situation and the government's response to tackle

Sami lost his father a year ago, but he still lives in his memory.

The memory of July 1st will remain one of darkness, a haunting memory of the night we lost Faraaz.

In Tears, We Remember

When countries across the globe have multi-pronged approach to tackle militancy and extremism, Bangladesh is still relying on the use of force.

Dhaka Medical College authorities urge police to take away the bodies of killed militants, which neither the families nor anyone is claiming yet.

Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the mastermind of Gulshan attack, and two other militants have been killed during a joint forces’ raid at a house in Narayanganj Sadar upazila this morning.

Law enforcers are to write to the home ministry to take necessary steps to ban militant outfit Ansar-Al-Islam, an alleged Bangladesh chapter of al-Qaeda in the Indian Sub-Continent.