Bloggers must not cross the limit

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque has urged the country's bloggers not to "cross the limit" while writing on religious issues.

"Do not cross the limit. Do not hurt anyone's religious belief," he told at a press briefing at the police headquarters in the capital yesterday.

The "freethinkers" should keep in mind that hurting someone's religious sentiment is a criminal offence, he said, adding that one could get 14 years' imprisonment under the ICT law if found guilty of such crimes.

He said if one feels hurt by someone's comments on any religion, that person should go to court for justice. 

On the killing of blogger Niladri Chattopadhyay Niloy, the IGP said police were investigating it "with top priority".

Niloy, 28, was hacked to death by four assailants, believed to be Islamist extremists, inside his flat in the capital's Goran area on Friday. He is the fourth blogger to have been killed this year. Hours after the gruesome attack, a group identifying itself as Ansar Al Islam sent emails to different media outlets claiming responsibility for the murder.

Meanwhile, a day after offering help in the murder case, a team of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the US met detectives in Dhaka yesterday.

The FBI team wanted to share their technical expertise with local detectives in the investigation, Deputy Commissioner (Detective Branch) Mahbub Alam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police told reporters after the meeting.

They also talked about the progress of investigation into the murder of secular writer Avijit Roy, he added.

Police had primarily ascertained that the email claiming responsibility for Niloy's murder was sent from inside Bangladesh, Mahbub said.

Replying to a query, Mahbub said the bloodstained T-shirt found at the crime scene was left behind by the killers. "It is a vital piece of evidence."

'POLITICAL MOTIVE BEHIND MURDER'
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu yesterday said political motive was behind the blogger murders.

"Those who wanted to destabilise the country with violence are behind the killings," said Amu, also convener of the cabinet committee on law and order.

Emerging from an inter-ministerial meeting, the veteran Awami League leader said they have given law enforcers strict instructions to arrest the culprits and “unveil their conspiracy”.

FROM A QUIET BOY TO A STRONG VOICE
Niloy, an activist of Gonojagoron Mancha, used to write on different issues with a science and logic-based approach, and along with some friends formed a society named Bangladesh Biggyan O Juktibadi Sangathan three years ago, said his friend Sazzad Sazu, also general secretary of the organisation.

The group, of around 30 members, has been active against bigotry and often holds workshop and study circles to make people aware of malpractices in the name of religion, he said.

"His [Niloy's] role in the organisation was integral," Sazu added.

As a child, Niloy used to be very quiet, said his mother Aparna Chattopadhyay.

"He was a quiet boy during his school days. He used to keep a very small number of friends."

His fondness for science and logic-based analysis of things developed perhaps while studying Philosophy at Dhaka University, she told this newspaper.