DHAKA: A Japanese citizen was shot dead  by gunmen in a northern Bangladesh town on Saturday, police said, days  after an Italian aid worker was murdered in an attack claimed by the  Islamic State group.

Police said the victim, whom they named as Hoshi  Kunio, aged 66, was riding in a rickshaw when he was shot dead in Kaunia  town in Rangpur district.

“He was travelling to the town from Rangpur  city, where he had been living for a while, on a cycle rickshaw when his  vehicle was stopped by three men riding on a motorcycle,” deputy police  chief of Rangpur, Saifur Rahman, told AFP. Home Minister Asaduzzaman  Kamal said the killings of the two foreigners appeared to be linked.

“We  see both the killings are similar. Three killers came on motorcyles and  fired shots from behind with pistols,” he said.

“The aim of the murder  of innocent people in this way is to make an attempt to create  instability in the country,” Kamal added.