Protests against killing of judges continue

Awami Jubo League, youth front of opposition Awami League, brought out a procession in Nilphamari town yesterday protesting the killing of two judges in Jhalakathi by a JMB suicide bomber on Monday.. PHOTO: STAR

Senior Assistant Judges Sohel Ahmed, 35 of Nalchiti and jagannath Oandey, 38, of Jhalakathi Sadar were killed in a suicide bombing by a JMB (Jamaatul Mujahideen, Bangladesh) activist at Jhalakathi Monday morning.

Our RU Correspondent reports: Rajshahi Advocate Bar Association yesterday morning took out a procession at the court compound to protest the killing of two judges in a bomb attack in Jhalakathi.

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Earlier, on Monday, the lawyers boycotted courts and held a protest meeting on court premises protesting the attack.

Yesterday's meeting held at the Bar Association auditorium was presided over by its president Zillur Rahman.

The speakers said that the BNP-led coalition government has to bear the responsibility for the attack as they patronised fundamentalist forces who have been making bomb attacks across the country.

They bitterly criticised the government for its failure to ensure security of life to judges.

The BNP-Jamaat government have no right to cling to power as it failed to protect life of citizens, they said.

The fundamentalists who are doing violence in the name of religion are tarnishing the image of the country abroad and defaming the greatest religion which never supports violence in any form, they said.

It was addressed by, among others, Entajul Haque Babu, Abdus Samad, Masum Ahmad, Nowsad Ali, Israfil Hossain, Tajul Islam Faruk,Abu Raihan , Abdul wahab and Mustafizur Rahman.

Rajshahi University Teachers' Association (Ruta) yesterday condemned the killing of two judges.

The Ruta leaders urged the government to uproot the militants from the country in order to ensure security of peoples life and demanded immediate arrest and trial of the culprits.

RU Vice-chancellor Prof Altaf Hossain and pro VC Prof Mamnunul Keramat in a separate statement strongly condemned the bomb attack.

They also expressed deep concern, condemned the dastardly act in the name of religion and demanded immediate arrest and trial of the culprits.

Our Kushtia Correspondent reports: Lawyers in Kushtia will form a human chain and abstain from work today in protest against the killing two judges in Jhalokathi on Monday.

Yesterday, they brought out a procession and held a rally, where today's programme was announced.

The rally was orgainsed under the banner of Sammilitya Ainjibi Samanya Parishad.

With its president Anup Kumar Nandi in the chair, the rally was addressed by, among others, Kushtia Bar Association secretary Nurul Islam Dulal, Mir Sanwar Hosain, Amanullah Nantu, Asmot Ali, Jahangir Alam Galib, Abdullah hel Baki.

Speakers at the rally bitterly criticised the government for what they called protecting Islamist zealots who are misinterpreting Islam and doing violence in the name of religion.

Kushtia Bar sources said that judges in Kushtia also announced their solidarity with today's programme of the lawyers.

Besides, Awami League led 14-party yesterday brought out a procession and held a rally at Kushtia town in protest against the killings.

Starting from Kushtia public library ground, the processionists paraded the main roads of the town.

At the rally held on the judge court premises with Kushtia AL vice-president Julfikar Ali Arzo in the chair, speakers bitterly criticised the BNP-Jamaat government for harboring Islamist militancy in the country since they assumed power.

The speakers included Kushtia AL secretary Ajgor Ali, organising secretary Dr. Aminul Haq Ratan, Sadar upazila secretary Aktheruzzman Masum and Amirul Islam.

Our Sirajganj Correspondent reports: Judges and lawyers in Sirajganj observed "a pen down strike" yesterday to protest the killing of the two judge in Jhalkathi on Monday by JMB cadres. They also boycotted courts till yesterday.

The 14- party alliance led by Awami League brought out a procession and held a rally demanding arrest of the killers and security for judges.

Leader of Sirajganj Bar Association said, they will hood a protest meeting and bring pout a procession in the town today.

A Correspondent reports from Gopalganj: Gopalganj district Sechhasebak League brought out a procession in the town and held a rally yesterday demanding punishment to the killers of two judges in Jhalakathi and security of judges.

The rally was held in front of Awami League office with Md. Akramuzzaman Akram, convener of district Sechhasebak League, in the chair.

The speakers bitterly condemned the violence and held the government responsible for this, saying it is protecting Islamic zealots who are killing innocent people in the name of religion. They also demanded punishment to the killers.