A Sufi minority spiritual leader was shot down by an unidentified gunman at his residence in Northern Bangladesh on 13 March. The leader's house help was also gunned down, said police. Both the killings came amidst a surge in attacks on liberal activists, minority sects and other religious groups in the Asian country, which is predominantly populated by Sunni Muslims.
According to Reuters, Farhad Hossain Chowdhury (55) and his teenage maid were shot down and hacked to death in their house situated in the northern district of Dinajpur. "We are yet to ascertain who carried out the murder," local police chief Arju Mohammad said.
Till now, no one has claimed responsibility for the killing. However, police are not ruling out links to Islamist militants. Moreover, Al Qaeda and Islamic State have been carrying out series of killings but the government has blamed domestic militant groups.
Last July, gunmen stormed a cafe and killed 22 people, most of them foreigners.
