MUMBAI: A BBC World Service freelance journalist has been killed in a bomb blast in Bangladesh.
Journalist Manik Saha was travelling by rickshaw in the south-western city of Khulna in Bangladesh yesterday when a bomb was thrown at him, killing him instantly.
Saha worked for the BBC as a freelance for over 10 years as a regular contributor to the BBC Bengali service. The 47- year-old is survived by his wife and two daughters.
BBC World Service's Asia-Pacific head Barry Langridge said, ''The reputation of the BBC so often rests on contributions from brave and experienced journalists facing various dangers and conflict in their everyday work.
Saha is the second BBC contributor to lose his life in Bangladesh. Four years ago, Shamsur Rahman was shot in the neighbouring town of Jessore.
Meanwhile Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has promised an investigation into Saha's death.