Bangladesh LGBT editor Xulhaz Mannan hacked to death in brutal attack
Two people have been hacked to death in a suspected Islamic militant attack.
Xulhaz Mannan – editor of LGBT magazine Roopban – and a friend were both slaughtered when they raided his apartment.
The killers are believed to have posed as couriers to gain access to the building, killing Mannan, a friend, and injuring a third person in Dhaka, according to the BBC.
Roopban is Bangladesh’s first and only magazine aimed at the LGBT community.
The LGBT activist had previously worked as a protocol officer for a former US ambassador to Bangladesh.
“I am devastated by the brutal murder of Xulhaz Mannan and another young Bangladeshi,” said US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat.
“We abhor this senseless act of violence and urge the Government of Bangladesh in the strongest terms to apprehend the criminals behind these murders,” she added.
Speaking at the time of the magazine’s launch in 2014, Mr Mannan described it as a ‘major leap forward’ for the LGBT community in the country.
“The main reason for this publication is to promote love,” he said.
“Promoting love and promoting the right to love. The audience for love is huge and that’s who this is for.”
So-called Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility – but the Bangladeshi government insists there is no IS presence in the country.
