Dhaka terrorist attack: Italian envoy calls on world community to unite against terrorism

Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mario Palma, today called on world community to unite its efforts in fighting terrorism with emphasis on closer cooperation between the intelligent services.

"This is the message of the moment we have to unite our efforts and this means also technical cooperation in fighting terrorist. I mean a closer cooperation between the intelligent services, a closer cooperation between the police, every kind of police. Every country has different police, statures, they have to cooperate more among their service and share whenever it's possible, all the information we need to fight this act," he said as people from all walks of life paid homage to the victims of the Gulshan attack at the Army Stadium in Dhaka.

Expressing his condolence to the victims of the terror attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, the Italian Ambassador said that more about peace and harmony should be taught to youngsters in their schools.

"The message we have to teach in our school, the good message of harmony, of cooperation, of love against hate. I feel so sorry, so sorry also for the young people who did it. They were educated young men. We cannot allow this to happen again in our society," he added.

Nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi American and two Bangladeshis were killed in the terror attack.

Saddened by the inhuman act, Palma said that Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renz has asked the people to be strong during this hour of grim.

"The reaction is that our prime minister said loudly to fight, to be strong, to go ahead. The response to the terrorism is to feel always able to live our daily live without accepting the limitation the terrorist will like to impose on us. We are free men, we are free women," he said.

The ambassador asked people not to pay attention to the messages of hate, death and instead subscribe the best message for life and love.

He said that Italy stands united with Bangladesh.

"To my citizen and all my Bangladeshi friends be strong. We have to react in a way that gives the right messages to the people who want to destroy the social harmony between us. Italy and Bangladesh they have a very very rich tradition, diversity inside both countries. I see this unprecedented attack is also an attack the very identity of Bangladesh," he said.

"You deserve all the cooperation and sympathy by your friends from all over the world. The same kind of sympathy who gave you a great support for your struggle to achieving independence. Now we have to unite our efforts to make this independence bearing fruits in term of social, economic and cultural advancement. We will be with you and you please be with us. Be with Italian people in this moment very difficult moment," he added.

Meanwhile, security continues to be tight at all sensitive points in the capital, with police checking all vehicles especially in the secured diplomatic area where the gruesome hostage killings took place.

US Secretary of State John Kerry had also called the Bangladesh Prime Minister and offered her assistance from American law enforcement, including the FBI, in the wake of the terror attack in Dhaka.

State Department spokesperson John Kirby said that the Secretary yesterday encouraged Bangladesh to conduct its investigation in accordance with the highest international standards and offered immediate US assistance in this regard.