India on Friday said it will work shoulder-to-shoulder with Bangladesh to protect societies from the threat of “ideologies of hate, violence and terror” in the aftermath of a series of Islamist attacks in the country.
In a letter to her Bangladesh counterpart A.H. Mahmood Ali, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj offered India’s support to Bangladesh in fighting terrorism.
She also offered a “comprehensive approach” to fight the menace.
“India stands firmly with Bangladesh in this hour of grief and will work shoulder-to-shoulder with government of Bangladesh against terrorism and to protect our societies from the threat of ideologies of hate, violence and terror.”
“We need to adopt zero tolerance policy and a comprehensive approach in fighting terrorism at all levels,” Bdnews quoted Swaraj as saying.
She said it was particularly “unfortunate that such mindless violence should be perpetrated during the holy month of Ramadan when the minds of true believers would be turned to spiritual pursuits“.
“This has shown us that terrorism has no religion and no faith.”
Referring to a deadly attack on a cafe in the capital last Friday in which 22 people, including an Indian girl, were killed by suspected Islamic State terrorists, Swaraj said she was confident that the government of Bangladesh “will do its utmost to bring those responsible for this cowardly attack to justice so that such attacks are not repeated in future”.
Soon after the July 1 attack, India responded with a call to stand by Bangladesh. Both President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack. Modi also phoned his counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh witnessed a fresh attack on Eid on Thursday when the country’s largest Eid congregation at Kishoreganj district came under attack, leading to the death of three people.
