SM Mizanur Rahman Unidentified assailants launched fresh attack on bloggers killing a publisher in his office at Aziz Super Market at Shahbagh and injuring three others at Lalmatia in the city on Saturday. The incidents reoccurred after eight months of the killing of blogger and writer Avijit Roy at the TSC roundabout on Dhaka University campus on February 26 this year.The deceased was identified as Faisal Arefin Dipon, son of Prof. Abul Quashem Fazlul Haque, a former teacher of Dhaka University.Meanwhile, local unit of the Iraq-based militant group Ansar Al Islam claimed the responsibility of both the attacks. In instant reaction, he said, “I don’t want trial of the killers, let good sense prevail on them.”At about 6:00pm on Saturday, Faisal Arefin Dipon, owner of Jagriti publication house, was slaughtered by unidentified assailants at his publication house in the second floor of the market adjacent to Shahbagh crossing. Earlier in the afternoon, three other bloggers were stabbed and shot at by miscreants in city’s Lalmatia area.Talking to journalists, Muntasirul Islam, Deputy Commissioner (Detective Branch) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said the unidentified assailants murdered Dipon at his publication office about 6:00pm at Aziz Super Market. Mahmudul Haque Badhon, a blogger, said a gang of miscreants with lethal weapons stormed Faisal Arefin Dipon’s publication house in the second floor of the market and launched attack on him.”The gang stabbed Dipon indiscriminately and later slaughtered him,” blogger Badhon told journalists. Critically injured Faisal Arefin Dipon was rushed to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where the attending doctors declared him dead. His body was sent to the DMCH morgue.In Lalmatia, a gang of four miscreants equipped with firearms and lethal weapons stormed Ahmedur Rashid Tutul’s publication house ‘Shuddhwashawr’ at Block C in Lalmatia area at about 2:30pm and attacked them with firearms and lethal weapons.The victims were identified as slain blogger Avijit Roy’s friend and publisher of Shuddhwashawr, Ahmedur Rashid Tutul, 43, Sudip Kumar alias Ronadipom Basu, 50, and Tareque Rahim, 30.The critically injured three victims were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Apart from stabbing, the three received bullets in their bodies. Condition of Tareque Rahim and Ahmedur Rashid Tutul is stated to be critical, an on duty physician of DMCH said. Most of the books written by Avijit Roy were published by the Shuddhwashawr publication and Jagriti publication. “Beside, bodies of Ronadipom Basu and Tareque Rahim bore several injury marks. Tareque received bullet at his left chest. The two were stabbed indiscriminately. The assailants stabbed all the three on their heads,” the physician said. “The miscreants stormed the Shuddhwashawr publication house and swooped on them with lethal weapons and firearms. Later they started stabbing them indiscriminately and fired several rounds of gunshots,” Jamal Uddin Mir, Officer-in-Charge of Mohammadpur Police Station told The New Nation on Saturday.He added leaving the victims in a pool of blood, the assailants kept the door of the publication house locked from outside. “We rushed to the spot and broke the door and rescued the injured people. Later they were taken to DMCH,” the OC said. Locals said gunshots and crying were heard from the publication house Saturday afternoon. “When I along with some local people was passing by the area, heard gunshots and crying. We stepped outside and saw a gang of four miscreants leaving the area after the shots were fired,” a local said. This is the fourth incident of grisly attacks this month after the murder of Italian citizen Cesare Tavella in Dhaka, Japanese national Kunio Hoshi in Rangpur, murder attempt of a priest in Pabna and bomb attack on Shia community during Ashura that left two dead.The attack on free thinkers began with that of the killing of Rajib Haider on February 15, 2013, followed by bloggers Shafiul Islam on November 15, 2014, Avijit Roy on February 26, 2015, Oyasiqur Rahman on March 30, 2015 and Ananta Bijoy Das on May 12, 2015.Talking to journalists, Biplob Kumar Sarker, Deputy Commissioner (Tejgaon division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said on Saturday they have not got any information about the miscreants.”Instantly, it is very difficult to say about the offenders and their motive. We have already started investigating the incident,” he said.Samakal Executive Editor Mostafiz Safi told journalists that he received a phone call from publisher Tutul that they were shot at and stabbed by miscreants. They were now under lock and key at their Shuddhwashawr publication office, he said after visiting the spot.”Besides, a youth introducing himself as Russell and an employee of the publication house said a gang of miscreants shot and stabbed us. Later they kept the door of the publication house locked from outside. Please save us,” he said.A Short Message Service (SMS) containing ‘save us’ from the same cell phone number also was sent to Biplob Kumar Sarker’s phone. Mostafiz Safi said later he informed Biplob Kumar. “Action has already been taken,” Biplob was quoted as saying.Neither the motive behind the attack nor identities of the attackers were immediately clear. Police said they were investigating the incident.
