Dhaka: United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is ready to help Bangladeshi law enforcers to investigate the killing of noted blogger and writer Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi born US expatriate who was hacked to death in Dhaka on Thursday night.

The agency has already talked with the law enforcers and family of the deceased writer expressing their interest in investigating the killing.

‘We had a communication with FBI in supporting the overall investigation of the killing. The FBI has informed us that they are willing to help us investigating the matter. It is likely that they might come to Bangladesh in this regard,’ said Ramna Division police assistant commissioner Shibli Noman.

Bangladeshi-born American blogger and writer Avijit Roy was killed and his wife blogger Rafida Ahmed Banya was severely injured when unidentified miscreants hacked them at TSC of Dhaka University on Thursday night. Avijit was the founder of popular Bangla blog ‘Mukto Mona’ (Free Mind)

The couple returned home on February 15 to attend the publications of two books written by him at Amar Ekushey Book Fair.

Family members of the writer also said that the agency had already communicated with them in this regard.

‘We had a communication with FBI on Friday. The embassy of United States in Dhaka today told us that they are ready to investigate the killing,’ said Avijit’s father Ajay Roy, also a retired physics professor of Dhaka University.

Meanwhile, a team from US embassy has visited the house of Ajay Roy at Elephant Road in Dhaka to express their condolence.

Condemning the brutal killing of Avijit, US Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki on Friday said that they are ready to assist in the investigation of the killing if asked by Bangladesh. She made the statement at a press briefing in Washington, DC.

Detectives still ‘clueless’:

Detectives investigating the killing are apparently clueless yet as they have failed to identify the killers with two days already passed.

It was reported that extremists have links with the killing, but the detectives have failed to confirm whether it was killed by militants or others.

DMP joint commissioner (DB) Monirul Islam said they suspect that the attackers might belong to militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team.

A twitter account in the name of Ansar Bangla-7 cheered at the murder and termed the killing as an ‘achievement’.

Deputy Commissioner of Detective Branch (south) of police Krishnapada Roy said that they are yet to make any significant progress to say.

Avijit’s father Ajay Roy said that they are not satisfied with the investigation process due to the failure of police in arresting any of the suspects.

‘They have the lists of the criminals. They can arrest the people at any time, which they are not doing,’ Ajay told reporters at his apartment.

The body would be kept for respect

The body of the slain writer will be taken to the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) first as Avijit was a BUET student. Later, the body would be kept at Aparajeya Bangla in Dhaka University campus for two hours from 11:00am on Sunday for people to pay their last respect.

Later, Avijit’s body would be donated to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for medical research works as per Avijit’s wish.

Pragatishil Chhatra Jote (Progressive Students’ Alliance), a combine of left leaning student organizations, will observe a general strike at DU campus on Monday protesting the killing. They will submit a memorandum to the home ministry on March 4.

Meanwhile, Sammilito Sankskritik Jote has announced a day-long hunger strike at Central Shaheed Minar on March 6 demanding arrest of the killers.