Describing the Gulshan café attackers as terrorists, not Muslims, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy has called upon all to get united against the brainwashing of youths with lies about religion.

Joy, also the Prime Minister’s ICT affairs adviser, in a status on his Facebook page early Monday, said, “It was a terrible, heinous attack. These killers were not Muslims. Terrorists have no religion…more than anything we need to reverse the brainwashing of our youth with lies about religion. We need to stand united in doing this.”

He further said, “The reality is that the terrorists were educated, middle-class individuals. There are many more like them. They could be your neighbours, relatives and sons. Each one of us has the responsibility to be vigilant to keep our country safe.”

At least 28 people, including 20 foreigners and Bangladeshis, six attackers and two senior police officials were killed as terrorists attacked Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant in the city's Gulshan diplomatic zone on Friday night.

Joy expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, especially the brave police officers who sacrificed their lives trying to stop the terrorists.

“One of the hallmarks of our culture is hospitality to our foreign guests. These terrorists want to stop that. We cannot allow them to succeed. Bangladesh must always remain welcoming to all people and religion,” the PM’s son observed.

It is also disturbing that some people are yet again blaming Awami League government for not doing enough, he said adding, “We’ve arrested the killers of almost all the attacks on bloggers and foreigners in the past three years.”unb