Two foreigners killed in Bangladesh, Australia and South African cricket teams canceled Dhaka tours; diplomats asked to provide security

By Shamsul Basunia
Two foreign nationals one from Italy and other from Japan were mercilessly murdered in Bangladesh within a week at a little span of gap of two days only. The law enforcers seriously failed to protect them and searched out the clue of the killings. These two incidents overnight changed the foreign people’s impression over the positive Bangladesh and they began to curtail their size of populace in Dhaka and outside the capital. All the diplomats residing in Bangladesh got frightened and they immediately demand to the host country’s government to act meaningfully, however the government could not able to find out a satisfactorical solution.
Unidentified assailants have gunned down Japanese national Kunio Hoshi in Rangpur, the second foreigner. Kunio was killed when he was on his way to his grass farm at Kaunia on Saturday morning. On Sep 28, Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was killed at Dhaka’s diplomatic zone Gulshan. Radical group Islamic State has reportedly claimed credit for both the murders. The terrorist group also threatened more attacks.
After Australia, South Africa women’s tour in Bangladesh postponed for security concerns. South Africa women are supposed to arrive in Dhaka on October 15 to play five ODIs and three T20s.The developments come four days after the Australian men's team also postponed their Test series in Bangladesh. US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat on Monday said they now feel safer than before and underscored the importance of joint efforts to address violent extremism.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan Papon has smelt a conspiracy behind the sudden postponement of Bangladesh tours of Cricket Australia and female cricketers of South Africa on security ground. Pakistani renowned cricketer Shahid Afridi slams Australia over cancellation of Bangladesh tour.
Government briefed diplomats about the current situation and security measures on to defuse tensions among foreign nationals living in Bangladesh, as the twin killings of foreign nationals eroded their confidence in personal safety while in Bangladesh. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday jointly briefed the diplomats. Mahmood Ali assured foreign diplomats, stationed in Dhaka, of bringing  perpetrators behind the murder of two foreign nationals to justice with transparency and professionalism. However, diplomats asked the government to provide security for foreigners in Bangladesh.