Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday said assistance from 'friendly and neighbouring nations' will be taken in dealing with terrorism.
"The extremists are luring 'innocent and educated' youths of Bangladesh towards death," said Kamal.
"There has to be a social movement involving everyone in the country," said Kamal while reading out a statement.
The Home Minister read out a written statement to reporters, briefing them three days after the siege of an upscale Gulshan cafe last weekend, reported the bdnews24com.
"The commandos who stormed into Holey Artisan Bakery and O' Kitchen to end the hostage situation, releasing 13 captives, had taken out six but only five were actually terrorists," said Kamal.
"The dead gunmen are all Bangladeshi who belong to various militant groups," added Kamal.
Also Read
The Home Minister was, however, unclear about how many people were being held as suspects.
To a direct question in this regard, he said: "That can't be said without verification."
The terrorists slaughtered 20 hostages inside the restaurant, including 17 foreign nationals from Italy, Japan and India. Two police officers were also killed in an explosion when the terrorists repelled an early attack by security forces.
--IANS
ss/rn/dg