Public unity must to defeat terrorism

If the people are not active and united, acts of terrorism will take place in different parts of the country again, warned groups of right activists, educationists, journalists, freedom fighters and cultural personalities while speaking at a human chain.

Sammilito Samajik Andolon and Bangladesh Rukhe Daraw jointly organised the event at the altar of the Raju sculpture near TSC on Dhaka University campus yesterday morning.

Prof Ajoy Roy, father of slain blogger and writer Avijit Roy, alleged that the fundamentalists are using religion as an excuse to kill free-thinkers and following the path of those who killed the intellectuals in 1971.

Speaking at the human chain, professor emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman said, "Conspiracy is going on nationally and internationally to foil the trial of war criminals. We never thought we have to deliver speech to establish ideology of liberation war in an independent country."

In his speech, Journalist Abed Khan said the government should build-up confidence in people by hanging all war criminals immediately.

Cultural personality Ramnedu Majumder said, "Terrorism is a global threat now and terrorists attacked Paris recently, which is why people from every class should play more vigilant role to defeat these evil forces."

Liberation war museum trustee Dr Sarowar Ali, economist Prof M M Akash, among others, also spoke at the event.

In the afternoon, Imran H Sarker led Gonojagron Mancha held a cultural rally at Shahbag intersection, demanding immediate arrest of the killers of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan and the attackers of bloggers.

"Terrorists have declared war against Bangladesh." he said.

Earlier Udichi Shilpigosthi performed protest songs against the killings while leaders and activists, later in the evening, lit up candles to honour the martyrs.