Information on Avijit’s Killers: US declares $5m reward

The US State Department yesterday announced a $5 million reward for information on the killing of Avijit Roy and the concurrent attack on his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya in Dhaka in February 2015.

The Rewards Justice Programme (RFJ), the counterterrorism rewards programme of the department's Diplomatic Security Service, made the announcement in a statement yesterday.

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On February 26, 2015, the Bangladesh-born US citizens were visiting Dhaka to attend Amar Ekushey Boi Mela when unidentified assailants attacked them with machetes. Avijit was killed and Bonya survived with critical injuries.

As an author, blogger, and activist, Avijit challenged fundamentalism in Bangladesh by advocating for freedom of expression. He coordinated international protests to raise awareness of the plight of imprisoned bloggers in Bangladesh and was a well-known critic of social repression, the RFJ said.

He was targeted and killed for his outspoken beliefs and activism.

The Ansarullah Bangla Team, a Bangladeshi militant group that claimed responsibility for the attack, seeks to radicalise youths to kill those deemed by it to be "anti-Islamic". Those responsible for the attack are believed to be in Bangladesh, the RFJ added.

Shortly thereafter, Asim Umar, the now-deceased leader of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), posted a widely circulated video claiming that AQIS followers, including those yet to be arrested, were responsible for the attack on Avijit and Bonya.

The Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal in Dhaka on February 16 this year handed down death sentences to five militants and life imprisonment to another for killing Avijit.

Those handed the death sentence are Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque alias Major (sacked) Zia, Akram Hossain, Abu Siddique Sohel, Mozammel Hossain, and Arafat Rahman.

Life imprisonment was given to Shafiur Rahman Farabi.

Major Zia and Akram are still on the run while the rest are behind bars.

Bonya, however, thinks prosecuting a few foot soldiers while ignoring the rise and roots of extremism does not deliver justice for Avijit's killing.

The US State Department said, "This investigation remains open and we are seeking information that will assist law enforcement agencies in bringing to justice the perpetrators of this heinous terrorist attack."

Contacted, Md Asaduzzaman, chief of the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, last night said most of those who took part in the attack were arrested and that the efforts to arrest Major Zia was on.

As per police intelligence, Zia is in Bangladesh, he said.

"The US' offering of reward could be a reflection of their strong policy against terrorism. We are also going strong against terrorists," he said.