The United States has urged Bangladesh to bring to justice the killers of a USAID employee who was allegedly murdered by Islamist extremists in Dhaka three years ago.

The message was conveyed during a meeting between USAID Administrator Mark Green and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, who is on a five-day visit to Washington DC, on Tuesday morning (Jan 22).

"The Administrator pressed for the Bangladeshi Government to pursue every avenue to bring to justice the killers of USAID employee Xulhaz Mannan, murdered in Dhaka almost three years ago," said a statement released by the USAID.

Xulhaz Mannan was an employee of the United States embassy in Dhaka and the founder of Bangladesh’s first LGBT-themed magazine ‘Roopbaan’. He was killed in his apartment along with another LGBT activist Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy in a machete attack allegedly by Islamist extremists on Apr 25, 2016.

Administrator Green thanked Foreign Secretary Haque for Bangladesh's hospitality and generosity in hosting nearly one million Rohingya refugees.

The status of the ongoing crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and the upcoming conference on human rights being hosted by the Bangladeshi foreign ministry was also discussed at the meeting between the two officials.

Mr Green once again expressed US concerns regarding “credible reports of election irregularities, including harassment, intimidation, and violence, which marred Bangladesh's recent election”.

Noting Bangladesh's ambition to accelerate economic growth and attract foreign investment, the Administrator emphasized the important role that citizen-responsive governance, transparency, respect for human rights, and strong democratic institutions play in creating a conducive environment for business.

This is the first high-level visit from Bangladesh after the formation of the new government and one of the top items on Foreign Secretary Haque’s agenda is to assuage Washington’s concerns regarding the recent elections.

Mr Haque also had a meeting with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Alice Wells on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bangladesh embassy or the Foreign Secretary’s delegation has so far not commented on the meetings at the State department.

The Foreign Secretary will also meet officials at the Pentagon, National Security Council and also officials at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour.