Shahriar Kabir: Bring blogger killer to justice

The Bangladesh government must apprehend the killers of blogger Niloy Neel, who was hacked to death recently in his own home in Dhaka, said Shahriar Kabir, Acting President of Nirmul Committee at round table discussion on 8 August in Cafe Grill restaurant, Banglatown, East London.

The discussion was chaired by UK Nirmul Committee’s Acting President Ishaque Kajol and conducted by Gen Secretary Syed Anas Pasha. Chief Guest at the meeting was Nadeem Qadir, London High Commission’s Press Minister. Other participants were central committee member Ansar Ahmed Ullah, Asst Sec Jamal Khan, Research Secretary Matiar Chowdhury, lawyer Piya Mayenin, blog activist Sayda Khan, poet Mojibul Haq Moni, journalist Neelu Hassan, Organising Secretary Ruby Haq, treasurer Shah Mustafijur Rahman Belal, executive members Anjumanara Anju, Shah Tufayel and Abu Sufian amongst others.

Shahriar Kabir said the government must send a strong message that killings aimed at silencing free thinkers will not be tolerated. Thorough and impartial investigations must be carried out promptly to ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice.

The killing of Niloy Neel is the fourth of a secular blogger since February, when a Bangladeshi-American Avijit Roy, was hacked to death on the Dhaka University campus while walking with his wife. Two others were attacked and killed in March and May, one in Dhaka and another in Sylhet.