Bring killers to book

The killing of another foreigner in five days has raised serious concern among foreign missions and citizens in Bangladesh, making them anxious about their safety and security.

A Japanese man, Hoshi Kunio, 66, was shot dead in Rangpur yesterday, after the murder of Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella in the high-security diplomatic zone of Gulshan in the capital on September 28.

Marcia Bernicat, US ambassador to Bangladesh, in a statement said, "I am deeply saddened by the murder of Japanese citizen Kunio Hoshi in Rangpur and offer my condolences to Mr. Hoshi's family, friends, and Japan. I urge the Government of Bangladesh to investigate every aspect of this crime and to bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible."

The Japanese Embassy in Dhaka has issued "safety information" for its nationals in Bangladesh.

On its official Facebook page, the embassy yesterday advised its citizens to avoid "nonessential travel" altogether. It also suggested taking extra measures while travelling in cars like keeping the doors locked.

The citizens were also advised to go to the embassy for reporting any "abnormal situation" to it, if they notice it.

According to a diplomatic source in Dhaka, there are more than 200 Japanese, including around 70 volunteers, in Bangladesh.

Though the Japanese mission is yet to make any formal statement or comment on Hoshi's murder, it is now concerned about the safety and security of its nationals, particularly of the experts, officials and volunteers working in the remote areas, added the source.

Talking to The Daily Star, a Japanese diplomat said they had been informed by law enforcement agencies that a Japanese man was shot dead in Rangpur yesterday morning.

"We understand that the matter is now under investigation," the diplomat said but declined to make further comments.

The Korean Embassy in Dhaka yesterday issued a fresh notice for its citizens in Bangladesh, asking them to "exercise caution and maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times in all places."

According to an official at the mission, there are some 1,500 Korean nationals, including 46 volunteers, across Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, embassies and high commissions of most of the influential countries have asked their citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution in Bangladesh".

Though the US embassy has not updated its security message for its citizens in Bangladesh since October 1, a diplomat of the country said the embassy employees have been instructed to use caution while travelling in Dhaka.

"US citizens in Bangladesh should continue to take whatever precautions they determine to be prudent, remain vigilant about their personal security, and be alert to local security developments," says its existing security message.

The UK's alert for its citizens updated yesterday reads, "There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners."

The Australian government travel advice continues to say that there is a high threat of "terrorism" in Bangladesh.

It has not changed the level of advice and also asked its citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution in Bangladesh."

The travel alert of the Canadian High Commission in Bangladesh read similar instructions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore in its travel notice to Bangladesh, which remained unchanged till yesterday, said, "In light of security risks involving possible attacks on foreigners, Singaporeans, either travelling to or already in Bangladesh, are advised to maintain a high level of vigilance and exercise caution while in public places frequented by foreigners.