Foreign Minister says 5 Bangladeshis died in NZ mosque attack

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said five Bangladesh nationals died in Friday's terror attacks in New Zealand mosques.

The identified victims are former Prof of Agronomy, Bangladesh Agriculture University, Dr Abdus Samad; Hosne Ara Ahmed, wife of Farid Ahmed hailed from Sylhet, Omar Faruk (Narayanganj), Mojammel Haque (Chandpur) and Zakaria Bhuiyan.

Minister Momen came up with the figure at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Zakaria, hailing from Narsingdi, went to New Zealand from Singapore as welder barely 18 months back.

Among the injured, the condition of Lipi, wife of Masud and hailing from Kishoreganj, is critical, and she might take another surgery.

Mutassim, hailing from Gazipur, and Sheikh Hasan Rubel who sustained bullet wounds in their feet are out of danger, according to the State Minister.

Fifty people were killed in terror attacks on two mosques during Jum'a prayers in Christchurch on the day.

Dr Samad's family has decided to bury him locally and his elder son will join them from Bangladesh.

There is no decision yet whether Hosne Ara will be buried there or her body will be brought back home.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque were present at the media briefing.

On Sunday evening, Foreign Minister Momen said there is no lack of coordination between his ministry and officials deployed on the ground after the terror attacks on two New Zealand mosques to find information about affected Bangladesh nationals.

The New Zealand government has informed Bangladesh that they will take one close relative from each of the victims' families to New Zealand and they will be able to bring the bodies back home.

Honorary Consul of Bangladesh Shafiqur Rahman could be contacted over his mobile phone (No +64 21024 65819). Two additional numbers for emergency contact are +61 424 472544, +61 450173035.

Following gruesome terrorist attacks on the two mosques in Christchurch, the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra has intensely engaged with the New Zealand authorities for the safety of members of Bangladesh diaspora and early safe exit of Bangladesh national cricket team from New Zealand. Tigers returned home on Saturday night.

The incident had happened minutes before the Bangladesh cricket team arrived at one of the mosques.

Meanwhile, the High Commission directly and through the Honorary Consul of Bangladesh in Auckland disseminated message to the Bangladeshis and diaspora living in New Zealand in general and Christchurch in particular to remain calm, be indoors, avoid the places of congregation and obey the instructions of law enforcers.

Honorary Consul of Bangladesh Shafiqur Rahman arrived at Christchurch on Saturday morning to extend support to the Bangladeshi victims.

All the injured were learnt to have taken to hospital for treatment after the attack while all the dead bodies kept in the mosque till Saturday.

The New Zealand authorities have confirmed the total number of deaths.

However, they are yet to confirm the nationalities of the victims and details of the injured.

Their Justice Department is expected to declare that, according to officials.

Source: unb