The European Union (EU) has called upon all to stand together against the actions of violent extremists in Bangladesh.
The call was made in a statement issued on Wednesday from the office of EU.
“The killings of Oyashiqur Rahman and Avijit Roy are an attack on free speech and democracy,” said the statement, adding: “The murder of Oyashiqur Rahman is the second attack in a month that targeted Bangladeshi bloggers.”
“Government authorities, political parties and civil society should stand together against the actions of violent extremists in Bangladesh.”
The statement also demanded that the perpetrators of these murders must be swiftly brought to justice.
It reads: “Freedom of expression is recognised as a human right by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bangladesh is a party.”
“The EU reiterates its deep commitment to freedom of expression and freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief. Tolerance and dialogue are essential elements of a democratic society.”
Blogger Oyashiqur Rahman was hacked to death in Tejgaon Industrial area of Dhaka on Monday morning.
Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi American online activist, writer, blogger known for pioneering Bengali freethinkers’ weblog-forum, Mukto Mona, was killed and his wife, blogger Rafida Ahmed Bonya, severely injured when unidentified miscreants hacked them at TSC of Dhaka University.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
