IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 23, Issue 3, Ver.2(March. 2018) PP15-21 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0837-2303021521 www.iosrjournals.org 15 | Page Holey Artisan Attack and Renewed Challenges for Future Counter Terrorism Strategy in Bangladesh Umme Salma Tarin Lecturer, Department Of International Relations, Bangladesh University Of Professionals. Abstract:The Rise Of New Global Security Challenges Has Not Kept Bangladesh Unaffected. The World Has Witnessed Terrorist Attacks In Parris, Brussels, Nice, Munich, London And Many Other Places In Recent Times. Bangladesh Has Witnessed A Sharp Rise In Terrorism Since The Mid-Nineties. In 2016, It Has Experienced One Of The Deadliest Terrorist Attacks In Holey Artisan Bakery Cafe In Dhaka, Which Has Exposed The Vulnerability Of This Country To Transnational Terrorism And Religio-Socio-Political Scourge. Terrorism In Bangladesh Is An Internationally Linked Phenomenon. In Case Of Bangladesh, History, Geostrategic Location, Religious Diversity, Weak Infrastructure, Demographic Factors And Socio-Economic Conditions Are Held Primarily Responsible For The Formation And Dissemination Of Extremist Views Along With The Proliferation Of Terrorist Activities And Events. The Transnational Form Of The Menace Is A Challenge For Nation Like Bangladesh. Hence, Bangladesh Needs To Identify The Emerging Nature Of Terrorism And Solutions To These More Specifically. We Need More Research Guided Policies By The Academia And Policy Planners. Violent Terrorist Incidents In Recent Times Have Multiplied The Risks And Vulnerabilities And These Are Possessing Some Serious Threat To Life, The Economy, Political And Religious Pluralism As Well As National Security. In Response To Such Violent Terrorist Activities The Government Of Bangladesh Has Intensified Its Counter-Terrorism Measures And In Some Operations It Has Deployed Army Personnel Apart From The Traditional Civil Forces To Curb The Situation. However, With The Arise Of New Facets Of Terrorist Threat, The Country Needs To Revisit Its Counterterrorism Strategy And Adjust It By Adapting New Toolsto Meet The Challenges It Faces. Key Words:Terrorism In Bangladesh, Counterterrorism, Holey Artisan Attack, Terrorist Rehabilitation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 23-02-2018 Date of acceptance: 10-03-2018 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction: Countering Terrorism Has Been One Of Thekey Policy Agendas For Governments Throughout The World Since The Rise Of Terrorism As A Common Threat. However, After The 9/11 Attack And The Subsequent Declaration Of War On Terror Has Added New Dimensions And Drive Towards Counterterrorism Strategies Of Different Nations. With The Advent Of New Facets Of Terrorist Activities There Is Continuous Necessity Of Shifting The Practicing Counterterrorism Activities. Bangladesh Is Not An Exception To This Context And Rather It Is One Of The Mostly Threatened Nations Due To The Rise Of Terrorism And Radicalization. The Assault On The Holey Artisan Bakery, An Upscale Restaurant In Bangladesh‘s Diplomatic Enclave, Last July Was A Wake-Up Call For Bangladeshi Society. No More There Was Chances To Deny The Fact That IS Was Not Operative In Bangladesh. It Is High Time The South Asian Nation Should Pursue For Complete Reassessment Of Counter-Terrorism.Bangladesh Has Seen Extremist Violence Earlier, But This Incident Was Game-Changing And Was Repeatedly Referred To By People As 'Bangladesh's 9/11' Because Of The Effort It Left On The Society Was Shaking. Only Six Armed Militants, Claimed By Islamic State, Conducted The Shootout, Killed Two Police Officers, Hold A 12-Hour Standoff And Unfortunately Killed 20 Hostages. Eventually The Commandos Of Bangladesh Armed Forces Had Been Engaged To Deal The Situation. The Government In Bangladesh Has Certainly Taken Some Positive Steps, But Far More Is Necessary To Halt A Fall Into The Chasm Of Terrorism And Extremism. While The Cafe Has Now Reopened, The Scars Run Deep. A National Soul-Searching Has Hastened To Tackle The Roots Of This Violence. 1. Terrorismin Bangladesh: A Brief Guide Since The Beginning: Bangladesh Is Figured As A Beacon Of Tolerance And Secularism In The Muslim-Majority World. However, Unfortunate But True It Is Heralded As A Hotbed Of Islamist Militancy Too. The Country Is Well Known For Liberal Practice Of Religion Where Most Of The Population Practices Its Indigenous Sufi-Inclined Religious Practice. It Is Quite Alarming That There Had Been A Sharp Increase In Extremist Violence Over Past Three Years. The Role Of Religion Is Now Facing Criticism Here As The Country Has Adopted Secularism In Its Constitution. Meanwhile Growing Political Polarization, Governance Issues, And A Gulf