BNP calls for fair probe into Avijit's killing
Accuses govt of failing to safeguard people's lives; warns 'partisan' law enforcers about consequences
The BNP yesterday strongly condemned the killing of secular writer Avijit Roy and demanded prosecution of the murderers through a fair investigation.
"The killing of Avijit Roy, despite foolproof security measures by police in Bangla Academy and TSC areas, proved that the government has failed to give security to people's lives and properties," BNP Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed said in a press statement.
Alleged religious fanatics hacked Avijit to death and severely wounded his wife near TSC at Dhaka University Thursday night, triggering strong protests among his fellow writers and publishers at home and abroad, who are disappointed at the growing intolerance in Bangladesh.
Avijit, the founder of Mukto-Mona (a free-mind) blog site, had faced death threats for his writings.
The BNP spokesperson, Salahuddin, said the anti-government movement would continue until the party's demand for a fresh election under a non-party administration was met.
Citing the death of a BNP leader's son who was hit by bullets while clashing with police in Dinajpur on Friday, the party claimed that the people were organising in their localities across the country to fight "state terrorism".
"This illegal government will be forced to quit very soon in the face of the people's spontaneous movement," the statement read. "It will not take much time to uproot the Awami League government with the huge participation of the grassroots-level people, although the government has expressed satisfaction to see the operation of some vehicles on the streets."
On the recent arrests of two Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders at Jahangirnagar University with handmade bombs, the party said this was nothing but a "stage-managed drama". The statement, however, did not elaborate on this.
Pointing to the "partisan" members of the Rapid Action Battalion and police, the statement added, "This is not the last government. So, you will not be able to save yourselves from the hands of law by patronising this illegal government."