‘Impunity, lack of accountability behind targeted killings’

A culture of impunity and lack of accountability in the state led to recurrence of targeted killings and other criminal activities, said noted academician Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury today.

"We are living in a culture of impunity. We are living in a society without accountability," Prof Serajul said during a discussion marking the first death anniversary of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan held at TSC Auditorium of Dhaka University.

Dipan, publisher of Jagriti Prakashani, was brutally hacked to death by suspected militants at his office on October 31 last year.

Speaking as chief guest, Prof Emeritus Anisuzzaman said the country's constitution gives people the right to freedom of speech.

People are waiting to see action as per law is taken against the killers and masterminds of Dipan murder, he added.

Noted educationist Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Dipan's father Prof Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, father of slain writer Avijit Roy Prof Ajoy Roy, president of Dipan Smriti Sangsad Economist Abul Barkat, DU Vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Prof Ashraf Uddin Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Economic Association, cultural personality Mamunur Rashid, Shaheedjaya Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, Imran H Sarker and Dipan's colleagues Golam Mortaja and Khan Mahbub were also among the noted speakers at the discussion.