Japan and Italy have assured Bangladesh that they would continue providing all sorts of cooperation to the South Asian country, regardless of any potential threat of terror attack on foreigners.

On Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi rejected media reports suggesting that his government was unhappy with the way the Bangladeshi authorities reacted to Friday's terror attack that killed 17 foreigners, including nine Italians.

"I think that by now any kind of discussion or polemic is pretty much pointless," Renzi said in an interview with Italian SkyTG24 news channel.

"From the first minute, it was a situation that was very difficult to handle," he said adding that the attackers were "ready to do anything," and "got in aiming to kill and succeeded."

In an unprecedented incident in Bangladesh, gunmen stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery café in Gulshan, killing 22 people, including 17 foreigners and two Bangladeshi police officers.

Seven of the victims were Japanese nationals, most of them were working at the metro rail project. The majority of the project is being financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

The Italian nationals had been associated with the Bangladeshi business sector for long.

During a meeting, visiting Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Kihara assured Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that Japan would stay with Bangladesh in its development activities.

Japan thinks terrorism is a global issue and it should be addressed through joint efforts, he said.

Activists of several Japanese non-profit organisations have also called upon their government to continue supporting Bangladesh, saying Japanese people are not the sole target of terrorists.

Talking to reporters at the capital's army stadium yesterday, Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Mario Palma said terrorists' purposes would be successful if they stopped assisting and visiting Dhaka. He had gone there to pay tribute to the victims of Friday's attack.

The Italian envoy said they have to continue their cooperation with Bangladesh to make not only this country but also other areas in the world secure. “This is our joint struggle,” he said.

He said Italian citizens were with Bangladeshis during their struggle for independence in 1971. He also urged Bangladeshi people to be with them at this shocking moment.

Japan and Italy suffered the most in the terror attack but the victims were not targeted for being Italians. “I think they were targeted for being foreigners,” added the envoy.

Asked, he said it was not important whether the attackers belonged to Islamic State or any other group. “What is important is now to recognise the threat…”

Replying to a query whether Italy would send their investigators to probe the incident, he said, “It is possible, it is possible, but so far I have no information [on the matter].”

Experts on Sunday interviewed by The Japan Times also said it was unlikely that Japanese nationals were specifically targeted during the attack.

Still, they warn, there is an increased chance that Japanese citizens could be caught up in such events now that the Islamic State appears to be expanding the range and scope of its operations.