Who said what after the killings

Investigators have yet to make any headway in the probe into the recent killings of two foreigners in Bangladesh. Police officials refrain from making comments, saying the matter is under investigation.

However, the government and ruling Awami League high-ups show little care for the investigation to be over and have already started accusing their political opponents of having hands in the killings.

We are presenting who said what following the murders:

PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINA, OCT 4:

"They [BNP-Jamaat] must've had a hand in the recent killings of an Italian and a Japanese man. There's no doubt about it … We are taking actions … The culprits will definitely be caught and tried."

SAJEEB WAZED JOY, PM'S SON AND ICT ADVISER, OCT 7:

"I have information from a reliable source that BNP-Jamaat are involved in the recent murder of foreigners in Bangladesh. They have done this in a desperate attempt to turn foreign governments against our country and destabilise it."

AL ACTING GENERAL SECRETARY MAHBUBUL ALAM HANIF, SEPT 30:

"The Italian citizen was killed in a move to malign the accomplishments of the prime minister. It's a pre-planned murder. The BNP-Jamaat combine leader Khaleda Zia might have a link with the killing."

AL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER SURANJIT SENGUPTA, OCT 2:

"A conspiracy is being hatched to link the Italian citizen's killing with international terrorism. But there is no link of international terrorism with the killing."

HOME MINISTER ASADUZZAMAN KHAN KAMAL, SEPT 29:

"There is no existence of the IS in Bangladesh. The [Italian national's] murder is an isolated incident and foreigners need not feel insecure. The claim that IS committed the killing might be speculations."

HEALTH MINISTER MOHAMMAD NASIM, OCT 7:

"Whenever the BNP chairperson visited abroad, something bad happened in the country. The BNP resorts to conspiracy whenever the country achieves something ... So it must be investigated if there is any connection between Khaleda's London visit and the foreigners' killings here."

INFORMATION MINISTER HASANUL HAQ INU, OCT 8:

"The BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami might have a hand behind the killing of two foreigners. No political party other than the BNP and the Jamaat can plot such conspiracies."

FOREIGN MINISTER MAHMOOD ALI, OCT 6:

"We do not yet have any credible information about any IS link. We don't have any proof ... The US is also working to verify the [reported] IS claim."

Compiled by Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee