On the night of July 1, 2016, terror shattered the calm of Dhaka’s upscale Gulshan neighborhood. Armed militants stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery, taking hostages and executing 20 civilians in a siege that lasted nearly 12 hours. Among the dead were seven Japanese nationals—dedicated professionals who had devoted their lives to helping build Bangladesh’s future.

Who Were They?

All seven Japanese victims were members of a team working under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Their mission: to upgrade Bangladesh’s national highway system, reduce accidents, and enhance trade and transport efficiency.

The deceased included veteran engineers, transport specialists, and young professionals on their first overseas assignments. They were:

• Kunio Okai (56) – A senior infrastructure expert with experience across Asia.
• Koji Kojima (48) – A survey engineer on his second mission to Bangladesh.
• Yuki Tatsushi (26) – A junior engineer, fresh to the field and full of promise.

• Michio Ogasawara (56) – A calm, experienced field leader.
• Nobuhiro Shimokubo (44) – A road quality specialist committed to people-first development.
• Katsuo Tamura (50) – A seasoned project manager who considered Bangladesh a second home.
• Takayuki Hoshi (40) – A tech-focused engineer passionate about innovation.

Honoring Their Legacy

Since the tragedy, Bangladesh and JICA have taken steps to preserve their memory:

• A Japanese Memorial Corner near Gulshan-2 now stands in quiet tribute.
• Commemorative plaques were placed at the JICA office.
• Upcoming projects are being dedicated in the names of the victims.