THE nation has been devastated by shock again with the murder of Faisal Arefin Dipon; who was publisher of blogger Avijith’s books denounced by Islamist extremist as blasphemous to Muslim faith. The nation witnessed four more killing of bloggers this year including Avijith himself in February last and the public outcry now equally blamed the failure and ineffectiveness of the government to deal with the hate provocateurs. Blaming police is easy but not right.
We have always said and saying again that democratic pluralism in a multi-party political system is a must to preserve social peace. Extremism from any quarter is a big threat to the state but it is hitting the nation one after another. Free-thinking should be the foundation of any creativeness but in our country those who call themselves free-thinkers show religious hatred. No free-thinking is necessary to spread hatred. Any insane can do it.
On Saturday two other bloggers and their publisher also came under machete attack in the city in which the publisher was also shot and critically injured. They are now receiving treatment in city hospitals. We condemn those attacks including the killing of Dipon in strongest term to say that killing of bloggers will not stop their free-thinking. Rather by resorting to killing the extremists are giving a bad name to Islam; which is not acceptable to any faithful. Islam speaks of tolerance as democracy also speaks in facing the antagonists with reasons and counter arguments.
But we know condemning the government is not the solution. Those who are provoking religious hatred must be stopped. It is the government’s inability to act that is creating the anarchic situation. The Muslims of Bangladesh do not believe in free-thinking insanity and will not tolerate Godless politics of free-thinkers.
