NHRC tells police to dispel people’s suspicion about their investigation into attack on publishers

The National Human Rights Commission chief says it is only ‘natural’ for people to grow suspicious of the security forces since no arrest has been made over the recent murder of a publisher and attack on three others in Dhaka.

Speaking to reporters in Feni, Mizanur Rahman said Saturday’s attacks would not have happened in the first place if the assailants of other secular writers were put on trial.

“It’s not unnatural for people to wonder if a part of administration or security forces had connived with the attackers and is preventing the identification and arrest of the offenders,” he said, in reply to a question.

Faisal Arefin Dipan, who ran 'Jagriti Prokashony', was found hacked to death on Saturday at Shahbagh, hours after machete-wielding men attacked the Lalmatia office of ‘Suddhaswar’ publication.

Both had published slain writer-blogger Avijit Roy.

Rahman said the security forces would have to “clear the suspicion” in case they were “baseless”.

“Identify the offenders and put them on trial… They (security forces) will have to prove that they do not compromise with criminals,” the NHRC chief added.