THE attack on blogger Avijit Roy on Dhaka University campus amid tightened security has stunned the nation and flaunted the loopholes of the ‘three-layer security’ system in and around the Ekushey Book Fair in the city. It took place at the university campus at a time when the police were on high alert in the capital and throughout the country to combat violence and terrorism along with ongoing blockade and hartals. People are totally confused as to how such a dreaded act can take place under the very nose of the security men and intelligence personnel deployed in the area. It is believed that his works, writings and thoughts, which are unorthodox and often anti-conventional to the majority people of Bangladesh, had earned the wrath of some extremist quarters. After 48 hours of killing, RAB, police and intelligence services could not find out the perpetrators raising eyebrow about the law enforcers’ capacity and outreach in arresting dreaded culprits. The attack almost resembled the manner, cause and context with that of the attack on Humayun Azad in 2004 at the same venue. Diversity in thoughts, knowledge and opinions are the beauty of democracy, it should be welcomed in all-time. We condemn the killing of the young blogger who came home from the USA on this occasion to see release two of his books. We demand immediate arrest and punishment of the culprits.News outlets reported that police was at the nearest of the killing spot while Avijit was knifed, but did not take any action to protect him giving the impression that the law enforcers were quite indifferent to protecting valuable lives, except chasing opposition leaders and workers. Avijit had received several threats on his life and question arises as to why he became so careless and did not inform police earlier about it. It could save his life. Reports said Ansar Bangla-7, an Islamist outfit group has claimed responsibility for the killing. Question arises when the ruling Awami League is claiming achievements of reigning over militant religious groups, how such a brutal killing could take place at the heart of the city. Police are killing young people in suspicion of involvement in petrol bomb attacks and arson, but how the killing of a blogger could take place giving a damn to high security is the biggest question. The thinking and writing of Avijit may have been subject to sharp criticism as to why he had carried out controversial work hurting sentiment of the vast majority of people of Bangladesh, but we must say he had the full right to live and pursue his opinion. The government has failed to make sure that and protect his life. We believe that the law enforcers, intelligence agencies’ men deployed on the campus and the government on top owe the nation an explanation for the serious security failure. His wife who was accompanying him on that occasion also suffered serious knife injuries and we express our sympathy to her and to the family of Avijit which suffered the serious loss of a son in an unexpected ambush.
