Suspected Islamist militants stabbed to death a Hindu priest at a temple in northern Bangladesh Sunday.
Two others were injured as they came to his aid.
Police say the assailants, on motorbikes, attacked the priest, Jogeshwar Roy, 50, with a knife as he was organizing prayers at a temple in Pangachar district, near the border with India.
Authorities say two devotees were wounded in the attack including one who was shot as he tried to save the priest.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a message posted on Twitter.
However, Bangladesh denies that Islamic State has a presence in the country. Police say the attack was likely carried out by members of Jamaatul Mujahadeen Bangladesh (JMB), a banned group blamed for last year's an attack on an Italian Catholic priest in the neighboring district of Dinajpur.
In recent months, Bangladesh has seen a wave of militant attacks on religious minorities including Shiites, Sufis, Christians and Ahmadis.