US, UK mourn latest killings, urges united fight on terror

The United Kingdom and the United States have expressed condolence and concern over the recent spate of killings in Bangladesh.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of more brutal murders in #Bangladesh. We stand with Bangladesh in the global fight against extremism,” UK Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire said in a twitter statement. 

Meanwhile, the United States envoy to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat today mourned over the recent killings, that of a police official’s wife and a grocer, and urged for a united global fight against terrorism.

“I join Bangladeshis in mourning the brutal killings of two more citizens yesterday - a mother and a grocer - who are the latest victims of violent extremism,” she said in a statement today.

Violent extremism is a global threat that the countries must confront together, she said in the statement that was published on US embassy’s Facebook page this morning.

Prayers for the soul of Mahmuda Aktar, wife and mother killed by extremists. Our prayers and thoughts are with SP Aktar and his family.

— Marcia Bernicat (@USAmbBangladesh) June 6, 2016

Mahmuda Akter, wife of a top police official who had an excellent run in clamping militancy in Chittagong, was murdered in front of her six-year-old son in the port city yesterday.

Veteran Christian grocer Sunil Gomez was hacked to death in Natore on the same day. Islamic State reportedly claimed responsibility of the killing. A cause, however, was not mentioned.

According to police and government high-ups, suspects both killings are related to militancy.