US, UK, EU shocked over Ashura blasts

The United States, United Kingdom and European Union have expressed deep shock at Saturday's bomb attack on a Shia Ashura gathering in the old part of the city.

US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat and British High Commissioner Robert Gibson reacted by sending messages on Tweeter and Facebook after the incident.

"I'm shocked by the senseless attack on a Shia Ashura gathering outside Old Dhaka, and offer my deepest condolences to the victims and their families," Bernicat said on Facebook.

Bangladesh has a long tradition of religious tolerance and communal harmony, she said, adding, "We stand with the Bangladeshi people and the Bangladesh government in these critical moments."

"Horrified at attack on Shia Ashura procession," Gibson tweeted, saying such violence and intolerance was not acceptable.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon in a statement yesterday condemned the bomb attack on the gathering of people from the Shia community on the occasion of Ashura.

Mayaudon in his statement urged the authorities concerned to bring the perpetrators to justice. He conveyed his condolences to the family of the youth who died in the incident and expressed his sympathy towards all other injured victims.

Mayaudon said he was confident that Bangladesh would respond with the highest sense of unity to this unprecedented act of violence targeting the Shia community in the

country.