Dhaka: Reaffirming that the government is committed to fighting militancy, Bangladesh government on Tuesday sought assistance from neighbouring and friendly countries in this regard.

Speaking at a press conference on Gulshan restaurant terror attack at the

Home Ministry, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan called upon for launching a social movement against extremism as militant outfits are trying to take the country’s educated youths to a wrong path, endangering their lives.

Asaduzzaman Khan also said the terrorists who attacked the restaurant were members of different banned militant groups of the country.

‘The government is committed to rooting out all kinds of militant activities. I’m calling for assistance from neighbouring and friendly countries in this regard,’ the minister said.

At least 28 people, including 17 foreigners, three Bangladeshis, six attackers and two senior police officials were killed as terrorists attacked Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant at the city's Gulshan diplomatic zone on Friday.

Narrating the terror attack, its consequences and joint forces’ commando operation, Asaduzzaman said 13 people, including three foreigners, were rescued alive by defeating terrorists.

After the ‘operation thunderbolt’ carried out by joint forces led by the Army, he said law enforcers recovered 26 bodies from the café.

Of them, 17 were of foreign nationals, including nine Italians, seven Japanese and an Indian, one of Bangladeshi origin American citizen, two Bangladeshis and six suspected terrorists, the home minister said.

Among the six suspected terrorists, he said five were identified by their family members. ‘Primary evidence and information have been found about their involvement in militancy.’

He, however, did not say anything about the rest of the suspected terrorists.

Mentioning that a case was filed against five dead terrorists and unidentified people with Gulshan Police Station under anti-terrorism act on Monday, the home minister said very skilled and experienced officials have been engaged in investigating the case. ‘High officials are regularly supervising it.’

As per the information they have got about the identified five terrorists, he said they were members of the banned militant outfits of the country.

He said the Gulshan incident was carried out by the militants to create a chaotic situation inside the country as they did militant activities earlier in the past with the same objective.

Asaduzzaman observed said some militant organisations are pushing educated youths towards death by derailing them in the name of religion to gain their heinous interests.  

Mentioning that Islam, a religion of peace, never supports killing innocent people, he said, ‘A social movement involving all people irrespective of their party and opinions and guardians will have forge so that no evil force can derail the youth and push them towards the immature death, and thwart the country’s ongoing development.’

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Inspector General of Police AMK Shahidul Hoque, Director General of Rapid Action Battalion Benazir Ahmed and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia were present at the press briefing.