Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday dismissed the Islamic State’s (IS) claim of murdering two foreigners within a week, saying the opposition BNP-Jamaat alliance has killed them to “tarnish” her government’s image.
“We have still not found any involvement (of ISIS). We have to investigate,” Ms. Hasina told reporters in Dhaka.
“There is no reason to believe that all our achievements will be overshadowed by these heinous murders, but that is what is being attempted,” she said.
“We will take action and track down the culprits. But if we get carried away by these murders and overlook our achievements, the BNP-Jamaat conspiracy will be successful,” Ms. Hasina said.
Japanese national Hosi Koniyo, who was headed to an agriculture farm on the outskirts of northern Rangpur city in a rickshaw, was shot thrice in the chest, shoulder and hand by the unidentified assassins yesterday. He died instantly.
Koniyo’s murder came five days after Cesare Tavella, an Italian aid worker, was killed when motorbike-born assailants shot him dead in Dhaka’s diplomatic area.
The ISIS had claimed responsibility for the killing of Tavella.
“We’ve got no clues. If someone claims responsibility, why should we have to accept it?” Ms. Hasina said.
“Until we find out the link through investigation, I don’t think there is any reason for us to accept it,” she said.
