Two Bangladeshis killed in Christchurch attack, three missing: state minister

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has confirmed that two Bangladeshi nationals were killed in the attack on two mosques in New Zealand’s Christchurch.

The state minister informed reporters of the revised death toll at a Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh event on Saturday.

At least 49 people were killed after a gunman opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch on Friday. Many others were injured.

Bangladesh Honorary Consul in Auckland Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan had said on Friday that three Bangladeshi nationals had been killed in the attack.

The state minister said that number had been based on initial reports from the expatriate community, but the toll had been revised down to two after the victim identified as ‘Mrs Samad’ was found alive.

The dead were identified as Prof Abdus Samad and Hosne Ara Parvin in a statement published on the state minister's Facebook page.

Samad, who had previously taught at the Krishibid Institute Bangladesh, was teaching at the Lincoln University in Christchurch.

Parvin and her husband Farid Uddin had been living in Christchurch for several decades.

Bangladesh Honorary Consul in Auckland Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan and two officials from the Bangladesh High Commission in Australia have been dispatched to Christchurch to inquire after the wounded and the families of Bangladeshi victims and to provide any necessary services.

Three Bangladeshi nationals have been missing since the attack, Alam said. Five others have been hospitalised with wounds.

The missing have been identified as Mozammel Haque, Zakaria Bhuiyan and Shaon.

The wounded have been identified as Lipi, Muntasim, Sheikh Hassan Rubel, Shahjada Akhtar and Omor Farooq.

Lipi and Muntasim are in critical condition, the state minister said.