Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Monday reaffirmed Bangladesh's steadfast commitment to eradicate terrorism, marking the solemn eighth anniversary of the Holey Artisan Bakery attack, the deadliest terrorist incident in the nation's history.
"The very tragic incident has helped us renew our commitment towards elimination of terrorism from our society, he said at a Commemoration Ceremony, held at residence of the Italian ambassador in Dhaka Antonio Alessandro, of the victims of the 2016 terrorist attack at Holey Artisan Bakery," he said, reports BSS.
On that tragic day in 2016, an appalling terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan took away 22 invaluable lives including 9 Italians, 7 Japanese, one US Bangladeshi and one Indian national and inflicted injury to many others.
Highlighting Bangladesh's progress in countering extremism, Foreign Secretary Masud stated that the tragic event had galvanised the government's resolve under its 'zero tolerance' policy towards terrorism.
"We have made significant strides in combating terrorism and preventing violent extremism in recent years, in conformity with our government's 'zero tolerance'," he said.
Masud expressed solidarity with the victims' families and acknowledged their enduring grief, noting the landmark trial that brought the perpetrators to justice.
"Bangladesh's response to this tragic incident had been incessant, till the verdict of the landmark trial, which brought the perpetrators to justice," he said.
The foreign secretary highlighted the government's comprehensive anti-terrorism measures encompassing intelligence operations, surveillance, and community engagement initiatives aimed at curbing radicalisation.
"Our government takes the secular underpinning of our Constitution with utmost seriousness and remains committed to upholding religious harmony and peaceful co-existence in our multi-cultural society against the misguided objectives of any radical or reactionary elements," he said.
Masud said Dhaka has remained steadfast in its commitment to work towards a peaceful Bangladesh for all, especially for the foreign nationals.
"We reaffirm our government's commitment to work together with the people and the governments of Italy, Japan India and the USA as well as the world community to fight this menace," he said.
Italian foreign affairs and international cooperation ministry's director general Luigi Vignali and Italian ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro also spoke at the ceremony.
Vignali said he is here to pay tribute to the victims and their families; and also reaffirm their strong bonding and friendship with Bangladesh. "We stand together," he said.
He appreciated Bangladesh's efforts in addressing the issue and said they will build the bridges of a better future by working together.
Representatives of the families of the victims and victims' friends from the expatriate community in Dhaka were also present.
Earlier in the morning, Bangladesh's foreign secretary along with the Italian Ambassador, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori paid tributes to the victims of the Holey Artisan attack through the deposition of floral wreaths.
They also paid tributes to the victims of the attack at Diplomatic Police Headquarters.
