Saudi embassy official killed in Dhaka

A Saudi embassy official was early Tuesday shot dead by unidentified assailants near his house in Dhaka.

Dhaka: A Saudi embassy official was early Tuesday shot dead by unidentified assailants near his house in the capital city of Dhaka.

Khalaf al Ali, 45, was shot once in the left side of the chest. He had joined the Saudi embassy here about two years ago, the Daily Star quoted Nurul Alam, assistant commissioner (police patrol), as saying. According to the Saudi embassy, some unidentified people attacked the official. A security guard at his house said he saw a white private car leaving the place at a very high speed after the gunshot.

"One of our diplomatic staff was killed near his house in Gulshan (area) this morning," United News of Bangladesh quoted Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Al Bussairy as saying.

Bangladesh`s acting foreign secretary Mustafa Kamal, however, said Khalaf al Ali was on the foreign ministry`s non-diplomats` list.

Police could not ascertain the reason behind the killing immediately.

The government of Bangladesh will conduct an all-out inquiry into the killing and ensure exemplary punishment to the people involved, the Saudi ambassador was told. Bangladesh`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its deep shock and sorrow at the tragic death of the Saudi embassy official.
IANS