World condemns Dhaka attacks in one voice; US, Japan offer help

The US and Japan have offered assistance to Bangladesh in its efforts to track down the perpetrators of the terror attack at an eatery here as the brazen assault was globally condemned in one voice.

Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe called his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina while Japan’s junior foreign minister Seiji Kihara today called on her and said Tokyo would join hands with the Bangladeshi government in fighting terrorism. Hasina has vowed to track down the perpetrators of the attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka’s Gulshan diplomatic zone.

“The Japanese premier talked to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over phone (last) morning,” Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS new agency. Abe lauded the prompt steps taken by the government to tackle the situation and reaffirmed Japan’s support to Bangladesh.

The United States yesterday offered assistance in efforts to track down the culprits and reiterated support for Bangladesh Premier’s commitment to combat violent extremism.

“We remain in close contact with the government of Bangladesh and have offered our assistance in their efforts to bring to justice those responsible for these attacks,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Acting British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake today called the attack a “senseless act of terror against innocent people living and working in Bangladesh”.

Russia denounced the terror attack, saying, “what happened in Dhaka once again proves that it is necessary to immediately combine efforts of all the global community to fight international terrorism”.

“We are indignant at this yet another inhumane terrorist attack, which has no justification,” Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation said in a statement.

Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Benot-Pierre Larame today said his government expressed its deepest sympathies to the loved ones of the victims.

In another statement, Canadian foreign minister Stephane Dion said Canada stands with the Bangladeshi people in the face of this act of terror and reaffirmed its commitment to fight terrorism. The European Union (EU) also strongly denounced the killings.

“I condemn in the strongest terms the brutal attack in Dhaka, which cost the lives of several Italians, Japanese, Bangladeshi and other foreign nationals. I extend my condolences to the families and relatives of all the victims,” President of European Council Donald Tusk said in a statement.

France also expressed “solidarity” with Bangladesh with its foreign office issuing a statement that said, “terrorism is a global scourge. France is determined to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorism everywhere”. Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay condemned the attack yesterday. Australia had also denounced the terrorist attack.