Daily Times

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed pleaded with extremists to stop killing in the name of religion, saying terrorists are maligning Islam’s name as the country’s capital Dhaka reeled after a terror attack that left over 20 dead.

“Islam is a religion of peace. Stop killing in the name of the religion,” Hasina said in a late night televised address to the nation in which she declared two days of mourning. “I want to ask those who are aiding terror, what do you get by taking innocent lives,” she questioned.

“What kind of ‘Muslims’ are these who kill others during (Islamic month of) Ramazan,” she also questioned. Prime Minister Hasina said that she was determined to eradicate terrorism in Bangladesh. “People must resist these terrorists. My government is determined to root out terrorism and militancy,” she said.

Speaking with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Dhaka attack has “pained us beyond words.” He said that India stands firmly with its neighbor in this hour of grief. He said that he spoke to Prime Minister Hasina and strongly condemned the despicable attack.

In a series of tweets, he said that India stands firmly with sisters and brothers of Bangladesh in this hour of grief. “My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that those who are injured recover quickly,” he said. On June 11, Prime Minister Hasina vowed to bring an end to a wave of targeted killings of minorities and secular citizens.