Nisha Desai Biswal coming to discuss security issues in Bangladesh on Wednesday

The US point person for South Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, is coming to Bangladesh to discuss the security situation after the killing of USAID staff and LGBT rights activist Xulhaz Mannan and his friend Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy.

After the murders Secretary of State John Kerry called up Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and stated that he would send his Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs soon.

An embassy spokesperson in Dhaka told bdnews24.com on Tuesday that Nisha would arrive on Wednesday.

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Earlier in the day, the state department in a statement said she would travel to Dhaka “this week” and meet with government officials “to discuss the broader bilateral relationship and issues of shared concern regarding security”.

She will also meet with the diplomatic community, and hold discussions with local human rights and civil society organisations, informed the state department, which is “closely monitoring” the “complex” situation in Bangladesh.

The Islamic State (IS) and al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) have reportedly claimed responsibility for the recent killings of secular writers, online activists and liberal publishers in Bangladesh in recent years.

The Bangladesh government, however, denies the existence of IS or AQIS in the country and claims that the killings were masterminded by ‘home-grown Islamist radicals’.

Kerry urged Hasina to ensure “thorough investigation of all these incidents,” and “redouble law enforcement efforts” to prevent future attacks and protect those who are at risk.