PM’s comment on foreigners’ murders in Bangladesh will encourage killers: BNP

The BNP has rubbished Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s statement alleging Khaleda Zia’s involvement with the killing of foreigners, saying such remarks will only encourage the killers.

Spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon on Sunday said such “fabricated and baseless” comments were intended to tarnish the BNP’s image.

Italian citizen Cesare Tavella was killed in Dhaka on Sept 28 and Japanese national Kunio Hoshi was gunned down in Rangpur within a week.

Investigators are yet to crack the mystery behind the killings.

Hasina on Saturday alleged Khaleda was trying to create panic by engineering the killings from abroad.

“We condemn the prime minister’s comments in the strongest term,” Ripon said.

“Such exaggerated comments [by the prime minister] will encourage the perpetrators who want to destabilise Bangladesh and disrupt democratic practices,” he added.

He added that his party wanted “proper investigation” into the incidents and called for ensuring foreigners’ security in Bangladesh.

The government has assured diplomats of adequate measures to protect foreign nationals. BGB troopers were deployed in the diplomatic zone to boost security on Saturday.

Food Minister Qamrul Islam on Sunday said it was “only natural” to suspect the BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami for the killing of foreigners.