Obama writes to murdered Bangladeshi LGBT activist’s family
President Barack Obama has written to the family of murdered Bangladeshi activist, Xulhaz Mannan.
The family of the gay rights activist said the US President had written to them mourning the late LGBT publisher’s death and expressed support.
Mr Mannan, who also worked at USAID, was hacked to death in April, allegedly by an Islamic extremist.
Mr Mannan’s brother Minhaz Manna told bdnews24 that USAID Bangladesh’s Mission Director, Janina Jaruzelski, handed over the letter to them last Thursday.
In the letter, Mr Obama and his wife Michelle, expressed their condolences and commended Mr Mannan’s “devotion” to establish human rights.
“It said Xulhaz’s bravery and devotion to establish equal rights will inspire all,” said Mr Manna.
Mr Mannan was attacked with his friend on April 25 and both were hacked to death.
Terrorist group, Ansar Al Islam, which claims to be the Bangladesh affiliate of al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the killings, but police doubted the claim and believed it was banned group, Ansarullah Bangla Team.
Mr Mannan’s family had previously expressed frustration at the police’s inability to make further headway in the investigation, as it took nearly a month to make an arrest.
After the killing, US Ambassador, Marcia Bernicat, said she had taken on the matter personally, while urging the Bangladesh government in the “strongest terms” to apprehend the murderers.
US Secretary of State, John Kerry, also weighed in and phoned Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, and expressed concern over the murder.
Mr Kerry had asked the prime minister to bring the killers to justice.
Recently, the UK also intervened in the humanitarian situation in the country by raising concerns about the LGBT population with the Government.
