Two men, including the editor of a gay rights magazine, were hacked to death in Bangladesh’s capital Monday, police said, two days after a university professor was slain in a style similar to recent attacks on bloggers and secular activists by Islamic militants.

Authorities said Islamic militants were suspected in Monday’s slayings at an apartment building in the Kalabagan area of Dhaka, though no arrests were reported and no one claimed responsibility. In addition to the two men killed, a guard at the building was injured, officials said.

The men killed Monday were identified as Xulhaz Mannan, 35, an editor for Roopbaan magazine and an employee of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and his friend, Tanay Majumder, an activist for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights, police said.

U.S. Ambassador Marcia Bernicat said she was devastated by the killings.


“Xulhaz was more than a colleague to those of us fortunate to work with him at the U.S. Embassy. He was a dear friend,” Bernicat said. “Our prayers are with Xulhaz, the other victim, and those injured in the attack.”

“We abhor this senseless act of violence and urge the Government of Bangladesh in the strongest terms to apprehend the criminals behind these murders.”

On Saturday, police said, Rezaul Karim Siddique, an English professor at Rajshahi University, was hacked to death near his house when he went to catch a bus to campus. Authorities citing witnesses said the attack was carried out by two assailants on a motorcycle.

The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant websites, said Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack and accused Siddique of advocating for atheism. Bangladesh has experienced a series of deadly assaults against secular bloggers, minority Shiites, Christians and foreigners.


The government has said Islamic State does not have a presence in the country.

Police said Monday’s attack occurred after a group of at least five people arrived at the building.

The assailants rushed to an apartment, attacked Mannan and Majumder and fled, police said.

The slayings occurred hours after Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said killings such as Siddique’s were “isolated incidents” and that people should not feel unsafe.


Kader is a special correspondent.

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