Bangladesh working ‘hard to win back Italian trust’ after cafe attack

Nine Italians were among the 17 foreigners killed in last year’s July 1 terrorists attack in the upscale cafe in Dhaka.

“We are working really hard to win back your trust,” Hamid said, speaking on the occasion of the Italian National Day on Monday.

Ambassador Mario Palma hosted the reception at his residence.

The state minister remembered the innocent Italian nationals and said “we can take consolation from the fact that the mastermind has been apprehended, but I know it will come to no use of the families of those nine lives”.

“Mi scuso con il popolo italiano. Non cederemo,” he said in Italian language which means: “I apologise to the Italian people. We will not yield”.

Hamid said the government had “doggedly pursued the head of this snake, which has plagued the peace and calm of our country, and our relationship with our friends”.

“We are doing everything in our power to ensure the safety and ease of every foreign national, who came here in the intention to grow with Bangladesh.”

The state minister highlighted the bilateral relations and said Italy is the “tested and trusted” friend of Bangladesh.

It was one of the first countries in Europe to recognise Bangladesh immediately after independence from Pakistan in 1971.

“Our relations have become stronger, durable and immensely fruitful over the years,” he said.

The two-way trade was around $1.5 billion in 2015-16 with Bangladesh’s exports making up most of it. The import from Italy was around $279 million last year.

“Italians are doing business in the textile and apparel industry for years, but to make a greater impact, the next step should be infrastructure and technology,” he said, inviting them to invest in the oil and gas sector.

“Our arms are open to any form of collaboration," Hamid told the Italians.