Police chief should've resigned after Avijit killing

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque should have resigned the day writer-blogger Avijit Roy was murdered for the cops' inaction during the occurrence, Law Commission Chairman Justice ABM Khairul Haque said yesterday.

"But we don't have that culture in our country. So, we don't expect it," he told a discussion of the Forum for Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971 in the capital's WVA auditorium, on "Avijit killing and ongoing terrorism: Role of government and citizen bodies".

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Police were standing some 15 yards away from the scene, he said. "Shouldn't have police rushed in, shouldn't have they chased the attackers, shouldn't have they taken the victims to hospital?"

"Here, we see many failures of police. The cops were standing motionless, while the wife of victim was screaming," said the former chief justice.

He called for proper monitoring of police activities by instituting "an independent body" for ensuring accountability. Besides, more police and judges should be recruited for public security and ensuring justice, he said.

About the recent visit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team following Avijit's killing, he said, "Why has FBI been called? You are supposed to follow the same grammar that FBI does in investigation. Then, what is the necessity to call FBI?"

Citing protracted investigation in different cases, Khairul said it took so long to complete the probe that justice could not be bestowed.

Avijit's father Prof Ajoy Roy said there needed a cultural revolution to combat the rise of fundamentalism and militancy in Bangladesh.

In this regard, Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government was sincerely working to prosecute the killers of Avijit.

People have been hostage to terrorism due to politics, observed rights activist Sultana Kamal.

The Forum acting president, Shahriar Kabir, demanded naming the road from Shahbagh to Doyel Chattar as "Humayun Azad-Avijit Sarak" and the TSC intersection as "Humayun Azad-Avijit Chattar".

The Forum adviser, Justice Syed Amirul Islam, chaired the function, where photojournalist Jibon Ahmed of Banglar Chokh, who took Avijit and his wife to hospital, was honoured for his generous act.

Avijit was hacked to death on February 26.