The world condemns

The international community yesterday condemned the latest of a series of attacks on free thinkers in Bangladesh, which left publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan killed and another publisher along with two others injured. 

The violence being carried out against liberal minds in the country is "very concerning," it said demanding the authorities bring the perpetrators to book and provide immediate protection to the citizens thought to be at risk.

Publisher of Jagriti Prokashani Dipan was found murdered at his office in the capital's Shahbagh on Saturday hours after Publisher of Shuddhoswar Ahmedur Rashid Chowdhury Tutul, writer Ranadipam Basu and blogger Tareque Rahim were hacked at Tutul's office in Lalmatia.

The murder and violent assaults are unacceptable, aimed to restrict the rights of individuals to freedom of expression, said UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Robert D Watkins in a statement.

Such incidents must be condemned at all levels of political and religious leaderships in order to prevent further attacks, he added. 

"Like the murders of Niloy Chakrabarti, Washikur Rahman, Ananta Bijoy Das, and Avijit Roy earlier this year, these heinous acts underscore the importance of our governments' joint efforts to counter violent extremism," the US Embassy in Dhaka said in a statement.  

The two incidents were only the latest of several disturbing events, including a bomb attack on the Shia gathering on Ashura in Old Dhaka and multiple attacks on religious minorities across the country, said the German Embassy in Dhaka in a message of condemnation.

It urged the government to conduct thorough investigations, ensure safety of liberal minds and strengthen freedom of speech of all citizens irrespective of their religious or political beliefs.

Stating that secularism is one of the core values of Bangladesh known for the peaceful coexistence of people of different religions and opinions, German Ambassador Dr Thomas Prinz said the recent incidents were not only assaults on individuals, rather attacks on the fundamental rights of freedom of expression.

"These barbaric assaults endanger the successful development of Bangladesh of the last decades."

The attacks further raise a climate of fear in the country, the German diplomat said, adding they support the Bangladesh government in openly rallying to the universal principles of freedom of expression and religion.

The French Embassy in Dhaka said Saturday's incidents cast light on the culture of impunity in Bangladesh. 

Dipan and Tutul had courageously published works of Avijit Roy, blogger and writer assassinated on February 26, it said, adding it stands with all women and men of goodwill in Bangladesh to fight extremism and terrorism.