Dhaka: The United States condemned the ‘brutal murder of writer, blogger Ananta Bijoy Das’, said US state department acting deputy spokesperson Jeff Rathke said in the daily press briefing at Washington, DC.

Mentioning the murder ‘the latest in a recent string of attacks against writers and bloggers in Bangladesh’, Rathke anticipated justice in regard.

‘We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. We hope that the Bangladeshi authorities will find and bring the perpetrators to justice, and that all Bangladeshis strive to ensure space for the peaceful expression of ideas without fear of violence, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’.

When asked whether US has ‘any clue that who killed him and has been killing so many bloggers (in Bangladesh)?’, Rathke said, ‘There is an investigation ongoing which the Bangladeshi authorities will lead’.

‘Of course, we are in contact with the Government of Bangladesh about the case’, he added.

A journalist asked Rathke if US has ‘any message’ about reportedly missing Bangladesh Nationalist Party spokesman and former state minister Salahuddin Ahmed, mentioning his recent trace in Shillong, India.

‘I’m sorry, we’re not involved in that case. I don’t have any update to share with you on that’ Rathke replied.