The World Bank has warned that it would be compelled to stop assistance to projects it is funding now if its staffers in field are not assured of adequate security.

Condemning the killing of an engineer Navaraj Bista recently, the Country Director of the Bank for Nepal Ken Ohashi, in a statement on Thursday, said “Development workers, be they engineers, teachers, or health care providers, should not be subjected to political violence. If their safety is not assured, we will be forced to assess whether our development assistance should continue in such areas.”

Bista was a staff with the Rural Access Improvement and Decentralization Project funded by the bank and implemented by the Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agriculture Roads (DOLIDAR) of the Nepal government. He and three other project staff were abducted as they were returning from a field training in Siraha district on May 11. The Janatarik Terai Mukti Morcha (Goit) claimed responsibility for the kidnappings and the subsequent murder of Bista.

“We are deeply shocked by this incident,” said Ohashi added. “The World Bank expresses condolences to the family of late Mr. Bista and sympathies to project staff traumatised by the incident. The World Bank also expresses gratitude to human rights professionals who helped secure the release of the other hostages.