The situation in Bangladesh is "very complex," says the US state department, after the Islamic State and al Qaeda reportedly claimed responsibility for recent murders in the country.

‘It’s a very complex situation on the ground’, the US deputy spokesperson Mark C. Toner said in Washington on early Saturday replying to a question in briefing that ‘the ISIS and Taliban claim’ taking responsibility of recent killings of US embassy staff Xulhaz Mannan and his friend while Bangladesh government was claiming the opposition parties were responsible behind the killings.‘There’s been various claims of responsibility. We have no reason not to believe those claims of responsibility. Mark Toner made the statement within a day of the US secretary of state John Kerry’s urge over phone to the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, to ensure a thorough investigation of the killings of Xulhaz Mannan, who was also editor of LGBT magazine Roopban, and his theatre activist friend Khandaker Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy. Kerry also offered the US support for the ongoing investigation into these recent attacks. Xulhaz and Mahbub were hacked to death by unidentified assailants at Xulhaz’s apartment at Kalabagan in Dhaka on April 25. The US authorities also requested the Bangladesh government to redouble law enforcement efforts to prevent future attacks and protect those who are at risk. ‘We want to see the government there take every step possible to protect its citizens,’ Tonar added.