Bring killers to justice

The United Nations, the United States and France have expressed concern over the brutal murder of blogger Ananta Bijoy Das in Sylhet and called for thorough investigations to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"The UN is concerned that these attacks are part of a larger trend of intolerance in Bangladeshi society which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency," the UN said in a statement yesterday.

Condemning the murder, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Robert D Watkins said the brutal killing of Ananta Bijoy Das was another fatal attack on online activists in Bangladesh.

"The UN calls for thorough investigations of these crimes in order to bring the perpetrators to justice. It also reiterates this call for the previous cases and to bring about speedy closure to the investigations, and to charge the individuals involved," he said.

The United Nations Special Rapporteurs yesterday in another statement said the recent killing of three bloggers, including Ananta Bijoy Das, in Bangladesh was an alarming signal of the deterioration of the space for freedom of expression in the country.

The rapporteurs on freedom of expression, David Kaye, and on extrajudicial executions, Christof Heyns, called for a prompt and thorough investigation of these cases, stressing that "it is vital to ensure the identification of those responsible for these horrendous crimes, as well as those who may have masterminded the attacks."

They urged the Bangladeshi authorities to consider specific initiatives to prevent the recurrence of attacks against writers and activists.
The US condemned the brutal murder of writer-blogger Ananta, the latest in a recent string of attacks on writers and bloggers in Bangladesh.

"We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. We hope that the Bangladeshi authorities will find and bring the perpetrators to justice, and that all Bangladeshis strive to ensure space for the peaceful expression of ideas without fear of violence, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," said Jeff Rathke, acting deputy spokesperson of the US Department of State.
Condemning Tuesday's murder of blogger Ananta, France called on the authorities "to investigate all the revolting acts".

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Sophie Aubert in a statement yesterday reiterated the country's attachment to the freedom of opinion and expression, including online expression.

BLOGGER'S KILLING A BLOW 
TO FREE SPEECH: HRW
Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday said the killing of secular blogger Ananta Bijoy Das was part of an alarming trend of intolerance toward freedom of religion and speech in Bangladesh.

"This pattern of vicious attacks on secular and atheist writers not only silences the victims but also sends a chilling message to all in Bangladesh who espouse independent views on religious issues," the rights body's Asia Director Brad Adams said in a statement.

"The Bangladesh government needs to act swiftly to bring to justice those responsible for these brutal attacks, and to make clear public statements that attacking freedom of religion and expression will not be tolerated," he said.

SWEDEN DENOUNCES 
BLOGGER MURDER
Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Johan Frisell expressed shock at the murder of Ananta and condemned the killing.

In a statement, Frisell told The Daily Star, "I am shocked by the murder of Ananta Bijoy Das and I deeply deplore it. It is the third time this year that extremists in Bangladesh have murdered a blogger who gave peaceful expression to his opinions."

He said Sweden had raised "the worrying situation for freedom of expression, freedom of religion and freedom of conscience with representatives of the Bangladeshi authorities on several occasions".

"It is important that the police and the judiciary do their utmost to find, prosecute and convict those who are responsible for this and the previous murders," the statement added.