The survival of Father Piero Parolari, the Italian missionary shot in Bangladesh this month is a miracle, according to Bishop the Bishop of Dinajpur.

"It was a miracle, he was saved by God," Bishop Tudu, the bishop of Dinajpur said. Parolari had survived an attempt on his life by three men who shot him while he was riding his bicycle to St Vincent Hospital, where he worked as a doctor.

"The attackers targeted his head but missed it, the bullet hit his neck instead and it passed it through", Bishop Tudu said.

The 64-year-old is now recovering in hospital, having suffered three broken ribs. When he is well enough he will return to Italy.

He has worked in Bangladesh as a medical missionary with the Pontifical Insitute for Foreign Missions (PIME) and serves impoverished Bangladeshi who live in remote villages.

His attack prompted the Bangladeshi government to issue a statement warning foreigners and religious leaders to avoid going out without informing the local police.

Tudu suggested that the shooting, along with other recent attacks, have been politically motivated: "With these attacks, these groups want to gain international attention. It seems they want to stir up instability in Bangladesh."

He stressed that, despite ISIS having laid claim to it, those behind the attack remain unknown.

Despite Bangladesh's government denying any ISIS infiltration into the nation, Western intelligence services and governments fear that it may be gaining a foothold in the country. Experts have said Islamists militants pose a growing threat as a long-running political crisis has led opponents of the government to be radicalised.

Tudu remained hopeful that "God's providence can help us bring peace and stability to our country."