Bangladesh situation ‘very complex’: US

The United States on Saturday described Bangladesh situation as ‘very complex’ and said there was a threat on the ground [in Bangladesh] from Middle-East-based Islamist militant outfit Islamic States.
‘It’s a very complex situation on the ground,’ US deputy spokesperson Mark C Toner said at a briefing in Washington on early Saturday replying to a question.
He said that ‘the ISIS and Taliban claim’ taking responsibility for recent killings of ‘US embassy staff’ Xulhaz Mannan and his friend while Bangladesh government was claiming the opposition parties were responsible for the killings.
‘There’s been various claims of responsibility. We have no reason to not to believe those claims of responsibility. But what is clear is that there is a threat on the ground,’ he said, according to a US state department release.
Mark Toner made the statement within a day of the US secretary of state John Kerry’s urge over phone to the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, to ensure a thorough investigation into the killings of Xulhaz Mannan, who was also one of the editors of LGBT magazine Roopban, and his theatre activist friend Khandaker Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy.
Kerry also offered the US support for the ongoing investigation into recent attacks.
Xulhaz and Mahbub were hacked to death by unidentified assailants at Xulhaz’s apartment at Kalabagan in Dhaka on April 25.
The US authorities also requested the Bangladesh government to redouble law enforcement efforts to prevent future attacks and protect those who were at risk.
‘We want to see the government there take every step possible to protect its citizens,’ Tonar added.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net