The Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro, hosted the annual ceremony at his Residence in remembrance of the victims of the attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, where nine Italians lost their lives on 1 July 2016.
Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation was the Director General for Italians Abroad and Migration Policies, Luigi Maria Vignali, who was on a mission in Bangladesh for the inaugural session of the bilateral Working Group on migration and mobility.
“We must remain vigilant against any resurgence of terrorism, in Bangladesh and everywhere in the world,” said Ambassador Alessandro. “Those who thought, through this heinous attack, to stir hatred between locals and expatriates, Muslims and Christians, Bangladesh and foreign countries, have failed. On the contrary, our friendship has been strengthened, as has our determination to do everything possible to reinforce our bonds and to halt terrorism”.
Also speaking at the ceremony was the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, who recalled the efforts made by the Government of Bangladesh in combating terrorism and the results achieved in this field.
Present were the ambassadors of the countries of origin of the other victims of the attack – Japan, India and the United States – the Deputy Chief of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, relatives, friends of the victims, and representatives of the Italian community.
