Minister thanks foreign friends for support after café attack

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam yesterday expressed Bangladesh's gratitude towards individuals, foreign countries and governments for standing by Bangladesh during its "difficult one year" since the July 1 Gulshan café attack.

He specially mentioned countries like Italy, Japan, India and the United States for standing by Bangladesh.

On July 1 last year, a group of young "misguided" people with sophisticated arms stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery in the capital's Gulshan diplomatic zone and killed 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, including Italian and Japanese. Two policemen were also killed during the 12-hour hostage standoff.

Shahriar said the government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had been able to combat militancy to a large extent with support from all. "We've more to do."

"We remember those who lost their lives in Holey Artisan Bakery with deep respect and convey deep sympathy to their families and governments of their countries," the state minister said in a post on his official Facebook page.

He thanked law enforcement agencies for their efforts and remembered those who sacrificed their lives during anti-militant drives in the country.

The state minister also tweeted remembering the Holey Artisan Bakery victims, who were killed in the deadliest terrorist attack in Bangladesh.