Dhaka – Japan has sought a thorough investigation of the facts regarding the killing of its nationals during the Dhaka cafe attack, sharing of related information and strict punishments for the perpetrators, UNB news agency has reported.
Japan also hoped for full-fledged cooperation to ensure the safety of Japanese people residing in and traveling to Bangladesh and to prevent recurrence, said a Japanese Foreign Ministry release.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe raised the issue during his meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina in Mongolia.
Abe said it is necessary to secure the safety of assistance-related personnel and other Japanese people in order to minimise the impact on initiatives by Japanese people and investment policies.
Abe’s meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the 11th sia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 11) Summit lasted for 20 minutes.
In his opening remarks, the Japanese Prime Minister deeply regretted the loss of many precious lives in the terrorist attack in Dhaka.
“Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason, and Japan strongly condemns this attack. I extend my condolences again for the Bangladeshi people who lost their lives and would like to express strong solidarity with Bangladesh.”
The Japanese victims were all involved in development assistance, and the loss of their lives is extremely regrettable, he said.
Abe said Japan will continue its ODA for Bangladesh to carry on the spirit of the victims.
Japan has also started a review at the Council on Safety Measures for International Cooperation Projects led by Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she was deeply shocked and saddened by the terrorist attack in Dhaka and expressed her heartfelt condolences for the seven Japanese victims to Prime Minister Abe, the Japanese people, and the bereaved families.
She expressed her respect for Prime Minister Abe’s bold decision immediately after this incident for Japan to continue ODA activities.
She said she instructed law enforcement agencies and military forces directly under my control to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese people and other foreigners.
“Bangladesh is responding not only through law enforcement agencies, but also with the cooperation of the people of Bangladesh as a whole,” she was quoted as saying in the release issued by Japanese Foreign Ministry.
Although the perpetrators of the terrorist attack were killed, she said Bangladesh is conducting an investigation into the underlying causes, including benefactors, funding, arms supply, and training, and plans to share all of the information it possesses on terrorism with Japan.
Bangladesh will cooperate fully with Japan to combat terrorism and nsure the safety of the Japanese people, she added.
