Holey Artisan attack didn’t affect friendly ties: Japanese envoy

GBNews24 Desk//

Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki on Friday (July 1, 2022) said seven Japanese nationals were among those killed in the Holey Artisan militant attack.

“Such a brutal incident was a difficult experience for the people of the two countries. However, it did not affect friendly relations bewteen Bangladesh and Japan,” the Ambassador said.

The Japanese Ambassador made the remarks after paying tribute to a temporary altar erected in front of the Holey Artisan building on Friday on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of Holey Artisan militant attack.

“We even didn’t dream of such a thrilling militant attack in Dhaka. Bangladesh is a peaceful country. Terrorism is not a part of the history of Bangladesh,” said the Japanese Ambassador.

He also noted that seven Japanese nationals were among those killed in the militant attack on Holey Artisan in Gulshan on July 1, 2016. As many as 22 people, including locals and foreigners, were killed in the horrific attack.

Ambassador Ito Naoki was the Senior Vice President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the time of the Holey Artisan militant attack. He is currently serving as the Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh.