Bangladesh Commemorates 9th Anniversary of Holey Artisan Bakery Terrorist Attack

Bangladesh has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of terrorism, and the 9th anniversary of the Holey Artisan Bakery terrorist attack serves as a poignant reminder of the nation's unwavering commitment to combating extremism. The attack, which occurred on July 1, 2016, resulted in the loss of 22 lives, including nine Italians, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, one US-Bangladeshi, and one Indian citizen. In a commemoration event held at the residence of the Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam paid tribute to the victims and reiterated Bangladesh's "zero tolerance policy" against terrorism.

Key Takeaways:

• The Holey Artisan Bakery terrorist attack resulted in the loss of 22 lives, including citizens from Italy, Japan, Bangladesh, the United States, and India.
• Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam emphasized Bangladesh's commitment to combating terrorism and extremism, stating that the country has a "zero tolerance policy" against these crimes.
• Bangladesh has taken decisive steps to counter extremist ideas through community engagement programs, information sharing with friendly countries, and strengthening counterterrorism legislation.
• The perpetrators of the attack have been brought to justice through a special anti-terrorism tribunal.
• The nation has come a long way since the tragic event, with Bangladesh displaying remarkable resilience in the face of terrorism.
• The attack was a "cruel affront" to humanity, and Bangladesh has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding values of compassion, dignity, and respect for all.
• The Foreign Secretary expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Italian Mission for organizing the commemoration event.

Statistics:

• 22 lives lost in the Holey Artisan Bakery terrorist attack (9 Italians, 7 Japanese, 2 Bangladeshis, 1 US-Bangladeshi, 1 Indian citizen, 2 Bangladeshi law enforcement officials)
• 9 years have passed since the attack occurred on July 1, 2016
• Bangladesh has taken significant steps to combat extremism, including expanding community engagement programs, sharing information with friendly countries, and strengthening counterterrorism legislation.

Sources:

• Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam's statement at the commemoration event (no date specified)
• Italy's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro, hosted the event at his residence
• Director General for Italians Abroad and Migration Policies, Luigi Maria Vignali, represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
• Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma
• Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Saida Shinichi
• Charge d'affaires at the US Embassy in Dhaka, Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson