Montreal’s Bangladeshi community is calling on Canada to do more to help fight extremism in their home country following a deadly terror attack in a café in Dhaka.
“The government seems to be indifferent to what is going on,” Dr. Tarun Chakravorty said from Montreal’s Cabot Square on Saturday, referring to the government in Bangladesh.
“A lot of torture, a lot of persecution has been taking place … this indifference of the government is tantamount to giving shelter to the criminals, to terrorists.”
Founded as a secular democracy, the South Asian nation has seen an upswing in violent extremism in recent years. Religious minorities, progressive Muslims and foreigners have all been targeted.
On Friday night, ISIS-affiliated gunmen stormed a popular cafe in Dhaka’s affluent diplomatic quarter. Bangladeshi security forces stormed the cafe early Saturday. The standoff claimed at least 28 lives.
The Montreal protesters called on western countries like Canada to do more to encourage Bangladesh’s government to fight extremism. Last year, Canada gave Bangladesh $142 million in foreign aid.
On Saturday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone, saying it targeted citizens of “Crusader countries.” No Canadians are believed to have been harmed in the incident.
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada expressed condolences to those affected by the attacks.
“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with those affected by the attacks at a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh,” spokesperson Austin Jean said in an email.
“Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa and consular officials at the High Commission of Canada in Dhaka are working to determine if Canadian citizens have been directly affected and stand ready to provide consular assistance to Canadian citizens.”
With a report from CTV Montreal’s Derek Conlon
