10 years since the Holey Artisan attack, BD vows to end terrorism

A tragedy from ten years ago, when the Holey Artisan Bakery was attacked, that many still carry with them. The government of Bangladesh and diplomats from several countries met Wednesday to honour the 24 people killed in the 2016 siege.

Shama Obaed Islam, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, used the ceremony to send a clear message: Bangladesh will not tolerate terrorism in any form. She stated that there is no excuse for such violence, whether political, religious, or based on any other belief.

“Our government remains fully committed to fighting terrorism and extremism,” said Shama Obaed Islam. “These forces have no place in Bangladesh, and we will never let them destroy our country’s peace.”

The event took place at the home of the Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro. Diplomats from Italy, India, Japan, and the United States joined the ceremony to lay flowers and observe a minute of silence for the victims.

On 1 July 2016, attackers took control of the Holey Artisan Bakery in the Gulshan area of Dhaka. The 12-hour siege resulted in the deaths of 20 hostages, two police officers, and six attackers. It is remembered as one of the most painful moments in the nation’s history.

Ambassador Antonio Alessandro spoke about the need for countries to work together to keep societies safe. “Let us not forget... never again,” he said, promising that Italy would continue to support global efforts to stop terrorism.

Shama Obaed Islam explained that since the attack, the government has worked hard to make Bangladesh safer. This includes a major effort involving schools, religious leaders, police, and ordinary citizens to help stop violent extremism before it starts. She also noted that the legal system has held the people responsible for the attack accountable.

The ceremony served as a reminder of the need for unity. Shama Obaed Islam concluded by saying that the country has shown remarkable strength since that dark day. She added that Bangladesh is now more focused than ever on building a future based on kindness, tolerance, and respect for all people.