Quader: Gulshan attack did not derail metro rail project

The Gulshan terror attack, where several Japanese consultants for Dhaka's metro rail project were killed, did not hamper the much-hyped project, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday. Many feared Japan would halt its development projects in Bangladesh in the aftermath of the deadliest terrorist attack in Bangladesh's history and that their departure would jeopardise the metro rail project. “Jica [the Japanese aid agency] has spontaneously informed us that it would remain engaged in Bangladesh,” Quader told reporters in Dhaka. There were seven Japanese nationals among the 20 hostages killed by terrorists on July 1 at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's secured diplomatic zone in Gulshan. Most of them were visiting Bangladesh as consultants for the project. Jica on Sunday told Dhaka that it was sending 10 metro rail feasibility study experts. Quader said: “The government will provide security for Japanese nationals at their residents and workplaces. Sufficient security measures will be taken to ensure their safety. “The project work is underway, uninterrupted.”