Govt wants FBI assistance

Responding to Washington's offer, Dhaka has decided to seek FBI's assistance in the Avijit murder probe.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali conveyed the government decision to a group of top diplomats from influential countries at the state guesthouse Padma yesterday afternoon.

According to a highly placed source at the foreign ministry, Mahmood Ali shared "the government decision to positively respond to the US' offer to engage the FBI in unearthing the motive and real culprits behind the murder."

Unknown assailants hacked writer-blogger Avijit Roy to death and seriously injured his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya on Dhaka University campus on Thursday night.

The next day, US Department of State Spokesperson Jen Psaki in a statement said Washington was ready to assist the investigation into the brutal killing of Avijit, a Bangladeshi-born American citizen, if sought.

"We, of course, will provide consular assistance as is appropriate. We also stand ready to assist in the investigation, if asked," Psaki added.

Earlier, officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as well as the Interpol came to Dhaka to assist local law enforcers in probing incidents like August 21 grenade blast, Kibria killing and attack on the then UK high commissioner Anwar Choudhury.

Yesterday, the slain blogger's wife Bonya was shifted to a cabin from the intensive care unit (ICU) of Square Hospital yesterday.

She was not able to remember anything about that night's incident, said her father-in-law Prof Ajoy Roy. "Doctors said she was improving gradually," he told The Daily Star.

Three cops were posted outside the cabin for her security.

Till last night, none was arrested and no breakthrough made in the murder case. 

DMP's Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said several teams were working to arrest the culprits. "We are trying to unearth the motive behind the killing."

However, investigation officer of the case, DB Inspector Fazlur Rahman claimed yesterday that he was yet to get the case documents.

On Saturday afternoon, a police team collected footage of close-circuit cameras installed by the Bangla Academy for the book fair.

According to a senior DMP official, investigators already have descriptions of those who hacked the couple. Police were trying to verify the details by examining the clips.

"We suspect that the killers had been following the victim since he was in the book fair," the official added, wishing not to be quoted.

On Saturday night, Avijit's family members filed a general diary with the Ramna Police Station in connection with the death threat issued against Prof Ajoy soon after his son's killing.

Meanwhile, a three-member inquiry committee has been formed to see whether there was any police negligence when the attack took place, said Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of DB.

Also yesterday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) expressed deep concern over the killing of Avijit and demanded trial of the killers.

Terming Avijit a humanitarian writer, the NHRC said this was an attack on the freedom of expression and it tarnished the country's image before the whole world.