President Pranab Mukherjee condemns terror attack in Dhaka

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on an Eid congregation in Bangladesh and expressed India's support to the neighbouring country in defeating forces of terror.

"I am shocked and distressed to hear about the terrorist attack in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, today (Thursday) on Eid. I condemn the perpetrators of this attack in the strongest of terms," the President said in a statement here.

This is the second terrorist attack in a week in Bangladesh, he said.

"The people and government are engaged in a brave struggle against the evil forces of extremism and violence. The government of India will strongly stand by our brothers and sisters of Bangladesh in this fight. We will extend every support possible to enable the Bangladesh government defeat these forces whose goal is to spread hatred, chaos and instability," he added.

Four people were killed on Thursday in an attack aimed at a police contingent guarding the Sholakia Ground in Kishoreganj district, 150 km north of Dhaka, just before prayers began at Bangladesh's largest Eid congregation.

Abu Sayem, Additional Superintendent of Police in Kishoreganj, said the four dead included two police constables and a woman. An attacker was also killed. 

On July one, suspected Islamic State terrorists killed 20 people, including a young Indian woman, during a siege at a Dhaka cafe.