US announces reward of $5m for info on Avijit attack mastermind

The US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service, through its Rewards for Justice (RFJ) office has offered reward of up to $5 million for information on attack that left US citizen Avijit Roy dead and his wife, Rafida Bonya Ahmed, seriously injured, reports BSS.

"The Secretary of State has authorized a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of anyone involved in the murder of Roy and the attack on Ahmed," a US State Department media note said today.

On February 26, 2015, Roy and Ahmed, both Bangladesh-born U.S. citizens, were visiting Dhaka to attend a book fair when they were attacked by assailants with machetes and Roy was killed and Ahmed survived with critical injuries, it 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," said the media note.

A total of six individuals were charged, tried, and convicted in Bangladesh. Two of the convicted conspirators, Syed Ziaul Haque (aka Major Zia) and Akram Hussain were tried in absentia and remain at large. It added.

The state department said anyone with information on this incident should text RFJ via Signal, Telegram, or Whatsapp at +1 (202) 702-7843 while all information will be kept strictly confidential.