Protests pour in

Different social and political organisations yesterday protested the murder of blogger Niladri Chattopadhyay Niloy, and demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the killers.

They also demanded appropriate action against police officers who allegedly declined to record a general diary Niladri wanted to file in May in fear for his life.

Niladri, who was also a Gonojagoron Mancha activist, is the fourth blogger to have been killed this year by suspected Islamist militants.

Niladri's wife and a friend alleged that the blogger had wanted to file a GD with Khilgaon and Shahjahanpur police stations but the law enforcers refused to record it. However, police denied the allegation.

Referring to a Facebook post of Niladri, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee said Niladri wanted to file a GD, but police instead told him to go abroad.

The police and administration have to explain why they would tell a citizen to leave the country instead of providing him protection, said the committee.

Sampradayikata-Jangibad Birodhi Mancha said progressive writers and intellectuals are being singled out and killed continuously. But the nonchalance of the administration has frustrated the nation, it said.

The criminals are becoming more violent as the trials of Rajib, Bijoy, Avijit and Oyasiqur are yet to be held, it said.

The Workers Party of Bangladesh, a part of the ruling Awami League-led alliance, urged the government to take strict measures in this regard to remove all confusion.

Several hundred students and teachers of Rajshahi University under different banners protested the murder on the campus, and demanded immediate arrest of the killers, reports our RU correspondent.

Bangladesh Chhatra Front, Chhatra Union, Chhatra Federation and Biplobi Chhatra Moitri brought out protest processions separately on the campus.

The police personnel who refused to lodge the GD must be brought to justice, said Alamgir Hossain Sujan, president of Chhatra Front.

Bangladesh Chhatra Union of Barisal formed a human chain in the city protesting the murder. Sammilita Samajik Andolon also voiced condemnations.