The Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) called upon the government to provide protection for the bloggers and online activists whose lives are under threat.\u00a0It also urged the authorities concerned to take legal action against those involved in the recent killings of bloggers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlongside the mainstream media, the role of Bangladeshi bloggers and online activists has also become vital,\u201d Ranjan Karmakar, a steering committee member of the forum, told a press briefing at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Reading out a written statement, Ranjan said many who could not express their thoughts in the mainstream media chose online platforms for doing so.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this is making the government and a vested quarter of the society intimidated,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Three bloggers — Avijit Roy, Oyasiqur Rahman and Ananta Bijoy Das — were brutally murdered in the last three months for expressing their opinions. Another free thinker, Ahmed Rajib Haider, was killed in 2013.<\/p>\n
Rajib, Avijit and Ananta were among the 84 people on the hit list of militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team, Bangla daily Jugantor reported on March 7. Hefajat-e Islam had given the same 84 names to the home ministry, claiming they were anti-Islam, the report said.<\/p>\n
At yesterday’s press briefing, the HRFB also demanded that an independent commission be formed to probe the killings.<\/p>\n
\u201cLaw enforcement agencies will not be able to investigate the killings impartially as there are allegations of negligence of duty against them in most of the incidents,\u201d Ranjan read out the statement.<\/p>\n
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanam, Barrister Sara Hossain and Zakir Hossain of Nagorik Uddyog, among others, were present at the programme.<\/p>\n
The HRFB is a coalition of 19 organisations including rights body Ain o Salish Kendra, anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh and development organisation Manusher Jonno Foundation.<\/p>\n
newsworldbd.com\/<\/p>\n
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