JICA marks 10th anniversary of Holey Artisan attack, honours seven Japanese nationals

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Thursday marked the 10th anniversary of the Holey Artisan Bakery attack of 1 July 2016, paying tribute to the seven Japanese nationals who lost their lives in the terrorist attack.

JICA held a memorial ceremony at the Metro Rail Exhibition and Information Centre (MEIC) in Uttara, bringing together representatives of the governments of Bangladesh and Japan, family members of the victims, development partners and other stakeholders.

The seven Japanese nationals worked on the early stages of Bangladesh's metro rail project. Their contributions helped lay the foundation for the Dhaka Metro Rail, one of the country's largest transport infrastructure projects.

JICA President Dr Tanaka Akihiko said the agency would continue its development cooperation with Bangladesh while honouring the memory of the victims.

"Bangladesh has gone through major political and social changes. However, the wish shared by those we have lost—that more people may live better and more fulfilling lives—remains alive in this country. We will carry their wishes forward, along with our strong commitment to safety, and continue our work in international cooperation," he said.

The ceremony was attended by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Shimada Tomoaki, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi, senior JICA officials and representatives of the Bangladesh government, including Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Ziaul Hoque, Economic Relations Division Additional Secretary Mohd Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui and Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd Managing Director Md Shaugatul Alam.

Representatives of Japanese companies involved in Bangladesh's infrastructure development also attended the event.

Marking the anniversary, JICA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bangladesh's development, describing the Dhaka Metro Rail as a symbol of cooperation between the two countries.