Terrorism can never be justified: Shama Obaed

The Bangladesh government and diplomats from India, Japan, Italy and the United States on Wednesday remembered the victims of the attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery where over 24 people including nine Italians lost their lives.

Paying tribute to the victims, they recalled the efforts by the government of Bangladesh in fighting terrorism and its achievements in this domain.

On July 1, 2016, a brutal terrorist attack was carried out at the Holey Artisan Bakery in the Gulshan diplomatic area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, claiming the lives of 24 individuals (20 hostages and two police officers, alongside six attackers).

The 12-hour siege was one of the deadliest in the country's history.

Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro hosted a commemoration ceremony at his residence in the afternoon marking the 10th anniversary.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam spoke as the chief guest at the ceremony.

Laura Schella, Head of Consular Chancery at the Italian Embassy, introduced the commemoration and read the names of all victims followed by deposition of wreaths of flowers.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Palestine Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yousef SY Ramadan, Ambassador of Italy Antonio Alessandro, Ambassador of Japan Shinichi Saida, High Commissioner of India Dinesh Trivedi, Acting DCoM, Embassy of the United States of America Albert Cea and representative of the Bangladesh Police placed floral wreaths.

A minute of silence in memory of the victims was observed.

The State Minister said terrorism can never be justified and Bangladesh will never allow anyone to undermine the peace and stability. Demographics

Describing the July 1 terrorist attack as a brutal attack on humanity, the State Minister said significant progress has been made.

"Let us not forget....never again," said the Italian Ambassador.