Staff Reporter :The European Union (EU) has termed the recent murders of bloggers as attack on free speech and democracy and urged all to stand united against violent extremism in Bangladesh. “The killings of Washiqur Rahman and Avijit Roy are the attack on free speech and democracy,” a statement issued by the EU spokesperson said on Wednesday. The murder of Washiqur Rahman in Dhaka on March 30 is the second attack in a month that targeted bloggers in Bangladesh, said.He said freedom of expression is recognised as a human right by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bangladesh is a party. “The EU reiterates its deep commitment to freedom of expression and freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief. Tolerance and dialogue are essential elements of a democratic society,” the spokesperson said.He added that the government authorities, political parties and civil society should stand together against the actions of violent extremists in Bangladesh. “The perpetrators of these murders must be swiftly brought to justice,” said the statement. The murder took place in short span of only 33 days after the brutal killing of writer Avijit Roy, who was hacked to death and his wife sustained serious injuries in Dhaka University area on February 26.
