UN chief, UNSC condemn attack

United Nations officials have condemned the terrorist attack in a cafe in Dhaka on Friday night.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “condemns the terrorist attack” and “hopes that those behind this crime will be identified and brought to justice," his spokesperson said in a statement.

Ban “stands firmly by Bangladesh as it confronts this threat and stresses the need to intensify regional and international efforts to prevent and combat terrorism," he said.

The secretary general also assured the government that the UN is prepared to assist in efforts to prevent violent extremism in all its forms, the spokesperson said.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) members have also condemned the heinous and cowardly attack.

They expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, to the people and the government of Bangladesh, as well as the people and the governments of foreign victims, and they wished speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.

The members reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

They stressed the need for taking measures to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, terrorist organisations and individual terrorists, in accordance with resolutions 2199 (2015) and 2253 (2015).

The UNSC members also underlined the need for bringing perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice. They stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.

The UNSC members reiterated that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation and wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group.

They reaffirmed the need for all states to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.