The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement that Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem Al-Ali, an official at the Saudi Embassy in Bangladesh, was shot by an unknown gunman at around 2 a.m. while he was walking near his home in Dhaka.
Police found Al-Ali’s body at an intersection just two buildings away from his residence in the city’s upmarket Gulshan district and rushed him to a hospital where he died three hours later.
“Bangladeshi authorities have started investigations at the highest level to understand the circumstances and the motives for the murder,” the statement said.
“The Saudi government had demanded quick results from the Bangladeshi government and further requested adequate protection for all the staff working at its embassy in Dhaka.”
On behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nizar bin Obaid Madani conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the brother of the deceased. Arrangements are being made by the ministry to repatriate the body to the Kingdom.
Al-Ali, 45, was working as second secretary at the consular division of the embassy in Dhaka. He was on transfer orders to move to the Saudi Embassy in Amman, Jordan, after two months.
Bangladesh Ambassador in the Kingdom Mohammed Shahidul Islam described the murder as a heinous crime that sent shock waves throughout the Kingdom as well as Bangladesh. “We have intensified the investigation process in Dhaka and we are fully confident that the people involved in this murder will be brought to book,” Islam said.
Islam said some senior government officials had rushed to the scene on hearing the attack to look after the interests of the wounded diplomat.
“We sincerely convey our deepest sympathies on behalf of the Bangladesh government to the bereaved family on this unforeseen tragedy,” the envoy said, adding that the country’s foreign minister, Dipu Moni, had conveyed her deepest sympathies through the Riyadh mission to the family of the deceased. He also confirmed the Saudi Foreign Ministry had sought enhanced protection for its embassy staff in Dhaka. Accordingly, he said the government had beefed up security measures.
“What has happened is very unfortunate and unexpected in this country,” Foreign Minister Moni said in a statement issued in Dhaka yesterday.
According to Dhaka Police Deputy Commissioner Lutful Kabir, the diplomat was shot in the chest some 30 meters away from his residence. The location of the shooting was cordoned off by police and security was stepped up in the diplomatic area of the city.
Saudi Ambassador in Dhaka Abdullah Al-Busairi described the incident as a great tragedy.
