Islamic State claimed responsibility for stabbing a Christian to death in Bangladesh as a "lesson to others", an online group that monitors extremist activity said, the latest killing declared by the militant group in the Muslim-majority nation.

The South Asian country has seen a surge in Islamist violence in which liberal activists, members of minority Muslim sects and other religious groups have been targeted.  The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group said Islamic State claimed responsibility for killing Hussein Ali Sarkar in Kurigram, north of Dhaka.

The group reported on Twitter that a "security detachment" killed the "preacher" to be a "lesson to others".  Police said the 68-year-old victim converted to Christianity from Islam in 1999 but was not a preacher.

Read more: Reuters