Dhaka: The chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Friday expressed the hope that a charge-sheet in the case filed over the Holey Artisan Bakery attack will be submitted by this year.

Replying to a query during a briefing at the DMP Media Centre, Monirul Islam said the CTTC has got sure that around 22-23 people were directly involved in the Gulshan café attack.

Of them, many were killed during drives carried out by the law enforcement agencies while the remaining suspects are now on the run, he said, adding the exact number of militants who had directly been involved in the attack might be higher.

Earlier, CTTC members arrested Maulana Abul Kashem, a spiritual leader of Neo JMB, from Senpara Parabata of Mirpur on Thursday night.

During the briefing, Monirul Islam said the Neo JMB’s spiritual leader had given his approval to the Gulshan cafe attack.

On July 1 last year, seven gunmen stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery and opened fire and took around 40 people, including restaurant staff and guests - both locals and foreigners - hostage. Of them, twenty hostages - nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi-born American and two Bangladeshis - were killed in the terror attack at the restaurant.

Besides, two senior police officers - Banani Police Station officer-in-charge Salauddin Ahmed Khan and Detective Branch assistant commissioner Robiul Islam - were killed as they tried to rescue the hostages.

Thirteen people, including three foreigners, were rescued during a successful commando operation that also left six of the gunmen dead.