US says Avijit murder ‘a cowardly assault’ on Bangladesh’s principles

The US has condemned in the “strongest terms” the brutal murder of Avijit Roy and offered to assist in the investigations.

Unidentified assailants hacked the Bangladeshi-American writer-blogger to death and seriously injured his blogger wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya on Dhaka University campus Thursday night.

The founder of the popular blog, Mukto-Mona, worked in the US as a bioengineer and came to Dhaka on leave on Feb 16.

The State Department’ spokesperson at a regular briefing on Friday described the murder “horrific in its brutality and cowardice”.

The daily briefing began condemning the murder.

“This was not just an attack against a person, but a cowardly assault on the universal principles enshrined in Bangladesh's constitution and the country's proud tradition of free intellectual and religious discourse,” Jen Psaki said.

“Avijit was a journalist, a humanist, a husband, and a friend, and we extend our condolences to his family and friends.”

“He was taken from us in a shocking act of violence,” she said.

Replying to a question she said: “We don’t have more information at this point. We, of course, will provide consular assistance as is appropriate”.

“We’re also – stand ready to assist in the investigation if asked,” she said.

“Clearly, we know his background, which was why I outlined it, but don’t have anything to ascribe in terms of a motive in this case,” she said.

The EU Delegation in Dhaka and the British High Commission earlier condemned the killing of the blogger who had received threats from the Islamist zealots for his active campaign against Islamist radicals.

He was a regular bdnews24.com columnist.

His father, professor Ajay Roy, filed a case of murder with Shahbagh police on Friday and said extremists were behind the murder and “Jamaat(-e-Islami) has backed them”.

The case did not name anyone.