Condemnations continue

Dhaka University Mass Communication and Journalism Alumni Association (DUMCJAA) yesterday formed a human chain demanding immediate punishment for the radicals, who threatened 10 people including DU Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, writer Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, and DU professors Kaberi Gayen and Asim Sarkar with death.

Addressing the human chain before Aparajeya Bangla on the campus, DUMCJAA President Alamgir Hossain said Prof Humayun Azad and several bloggers have already been killed and the radicals are continuously threatening the free thinkers.

Prof Maksud Kamal, general secretary of Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta), said the government must arrest the national and international groups which are behind this.

Duta President Farid Uddin Ahmed said law enforcement agencies are being modernised and salary of the law enforcers has also increased but still they are not performing their duties properly.

The 10, including prime minister's adviser HT Imam, Awami League lawmaker Tarana Halim, spokesperson of a faction of Gonojagoron Mancha Imran H Sarker, Bikash Saha, Md Iqbalur Rahim, and Paltan Sutar, received identical letters on Wednesday, purportedly from Ansarullah Bangla Team, which list their names and read "Must you will prepare for dead (sic)."

Meanwhile at Shahbagh, Samprodayikota-Jongibadh Birodhi Mancha formed a human chain protesting the issue.

At the human chain, lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha said social unity is more important than political unity to stop such communalism and terrorism.

Condemning the death threats, Rajshahi University Teachers Association (Ruta) yesterday demanded that the authorities concerned boost up security for the 10 eminent personalities, read a press statement signed by Ruta General Secretary Prof Rezaul Karim Badal.