Killing of journalist Manik Saha condemned

BNP Secretary General and LGRD and Cooperative Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan in a statement expressed grave concern over the killing of the newsman. Manik Saha died in a bomb explosion near the Khulna Press Club yesterday noon.

The minister called for immediate arrest of and exemplary punishment to the killers.

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Information Minister Tariqul Islam has strongly condemned the killing of journalist Manik Saha and asked the law enforcing agencies to bring the culprits to book.

In a statement, Tariqul condoled the death of the eminent journalist and asked the police to take all-out measures to arrest the killers.

Former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury also condemned the killing and expressed his grave concern.

He demanded immediate arrest of and punishment to those responsible for the killing.

Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) yesterday demonstrated in the city and held a protest rally where the leaders called for immediate arrest of the killers.

In a joint statement, DUJ President Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury demanded resignation of the home minister as what they said he has failed to ensure security of the people.

The DUJ and the BFUJ will hold a protest rally in Dhaka on January 19.

The Commonwealth Journalists' Association (CJA) has expressed deep shock at the killing of journalist Manik Shaha in a bomb attack.

In separate statements, CJA Global President Hassan Shahriar and CJA Bangladesh chapter President Farid Hossain said the heinous attack not only killed a brave and honest journalist, but also threatened freedom of press.

They demanded that the attackers be arrested immediately and punished.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) demonstrated and held a rally at Muktangon in the city.

The killing has once again proved that no one has security of life in the country, the CPB leaders said.

Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum, Bangladesh Sangbadik Samity, Comilla Sangbadik Union, Kushtia Reporters Unity and Barisal Reporters Unity have condemned the killing and demanded immediate arrest of and punishment to the killers.

The socio-political organisations who have protested the killing are Workers Party, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Bangladesh Jubo Moitree, Mass-line Media Centre, National Awami Party, Left Democratic Front, Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Chhatra Union and Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oiyka Parishad.

Thirteen non-government organisations in a joint statement also condemned the killing. They are Ain O Salish Kendro, Sammilito Nari Samaj, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association, Odhikar, Nari Progoti Sangha, Karmagibi Nari and Bela.

Our CU correspondent adds: the journalist community of Chittagong has strongly condemned the killing of Manik Saha.

They said the killing of the journalist is nothing but a consequence of the repression on journalists round the year.

The journalists who are working in the southwestern region of the country, including Khulna district, are not safe at all and being repressed by the criminals regularly, they said.

The attack and repression on the journalists have increased at an alarming rate in that region since the present government took over and Manik Shaha is the latest victim of crimes, they added.

The journalists community will hold a protest rally and procession at the local press club at 11.00am on Saturday.

In a joint statement, the journalist leaders also demanded immediate arrest of the culprits responsible for the killing.

The signatories to the statement are BFUJ leader Arun Das Gupta, AZM Haider, Nirmal Das and Omar Kaiser, Chittagong Press Club leaders Abu Sufian and Kalim Sarwer, CUJ leaders Mustaq Ahmed and Shahid-Ul-Alam, and Chittagong Reporters Council leaders Osman Gani Monsur and Moazzamel Haq.

Our staff correspondent from Sylhet adds: the journalist community in Sylhet took out a mourning procession in Sylhet yesterday to condole the death of journalist Manik Saha.

The procession started from the Press Club and ended at the Court point area of the city.

A brief rally was also held where Club president Iqbal Siddiquee, secretary Liaquat Shah Faridi and vice presidents Bashiruddin and Al-Azad spoke.