Germany calls for protecting internet activists

Condemning the murder of blogger Niladri Chattopadhyay Niloy, Germany yesterday called on the government to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of internet activists and speedy investigation into the killing.

"This barbaric assault on an outspoken member of the blogger community is the latest attack on the freedom of expression in Bangladesh. A society needs to practice tolerance and cannot allow extremists to dictate the actions and words of liberal minds," said Ferdinand von Weyhe, chargé d'affaires of the German embassy in Dhaka.

Weyhe made the statement following his meeting with spokesperson of Gonojagoron Mancha and representative of the blogger community Imran H Sarker.

According to a German embassy press release, the two discussed options to protect bloggers and internet activists in Bangladesh.

The release said the German embassy had been working on protection of journalists in Bangladesh for numerous years and had undertaken several projects on de-radicalisation.

Weyhe extended condolences to the widow and family of Niladri.