Protesters accuse law enforcers of failure

Different organisations yesterday slammed the law enforcers for failing to arrest the people who killed publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan and attacked three others last week.

Citing the past killings of bloggers, they also accused the government of being unable to give security to the lives of freethinkers.

Meanwhile, Prof Ajoy Roy, father of the slain writer-blogger Avijit Roy, expressed deep condolence for the family of Dipan, who used to publish the writings of Avijit.

Addressing a Gonojagoron Mancha rally at the capital's Shahbagh, the Dhaka University professor announced that he would carry on his battle to ensure justice for such victims.

At the rally, the Imran H Sarker-led Mancha yesterday gave the government 15 days to arrest Dipan's killers, and said the anti-war crime platform would launch tougher programmes if their demands were not met by November 20.

I want trial for all killings, not only for those of bloggers. I will have the killers stand on the dock. My struggle will continue until I get the killers of Avijit and Dipan to the dock. --Prof Ajay Roy

The Mancha will hold a mass rally at Shahbagh at 3:00pm on November 20.

Imran, the Mancha spokesperson, blamed the government's insincerity for the killings of bloggers. "The government has totally failed to give security to the freethinkers of the country", he said.

He also alleged that the government was not sincere about thwarting militancy but rather they were paying more attention to suppress protests.

Khalequzzaman, general secretary of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, said the government had failed to protect freethinkers, and their remarks were also encouraging the militant forces who assailed Prof Humayun Azad some years ago.

Academics, politicians, bloggers, student leaders, cultural personalities and leaders and activists of the Ganojagaran Mancha attended the rally.

Meanwhile, Sammilito Sangskrotik Jote, an alliance of cultural groups, formed a human chain in front of Aziz Supermarket, raising the same demand.

Nasiruddin Yousuf, former president of the Jote, urged the government to not only bring the perpetrators to trial but also take measures to prevent such killings.

"Though it is a pro-liberation war government, it shows laxity in stopping the killings of free-thinkers," he said.

"Aziz market is a centre of young writers and freethinkers. We condemned the brutal attack on Dipan on October 31 in this market," he added.

President of the Jote Golam Kuddus said, "People have the right to know what steps have been taken by the government to the find the culprits."

Around a hundred cultural activists joined the human chin.

Meanwhile, Jongibad and Samprodaikota Protirodh Morcha, an alliance to stop militancy and communalism, brought out a procession from the Central Shaheed Minar in the evening calling for elimination of terrorism and militancy.