Rangpur, Bangladesh (BBN)-A Japanese man has been shot dead in northern Bangladesh, police said, in the second killing of a foreign national in a week.

Kunio Hoshi, who worked for a farming project, was attacked by unknown assailants in the town of Kaunia, reports BBC.

It comes days after an Italian aid worker was murdered in the capital Dhaka in an attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.

But the authorities said there was no evidence behind the claim.

Mr Hoshi’s body has been taken to a state-run hospital. An investigation is underway.

The killing of the Italian man, Cesare Tavella, prompted the US and UK to warn its citizens to be cautious.

Attacks on foreigners in Bangladesh are rare, correspondents say, but Islamist violence has surged recently, including high-profile attacks on atheist bloggers.

BBN/SK/AD