The United States has strongly condemned the brutal murder of Avijit Roy, a writer and blogger.

‘This was not just an attack against a person, but a cowardly assault on the universal principles enshrined in Bangladesh's constitution and the country's proud tradition of free, intellectual and religious discourse,’ US Department of State Spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement on Friday.

Earlier, the United Kingdom and the European Union, condemned the brutal killing and demanded prompt investigation.

Avijit Roy was killed and his wife Rafida Afrin Banya injured seriously as unidentified criminals stabbed them near TSC on the Dhaka University campus on Thursday night.

Avijit and Rafida, an expatriate couple living in the USA, returned home a few days back as his two books were published on the occasion of Amar Ekushey Book Fair.