Rajib's killing shocks Parliament, MPs seek justice

Parliament on Sunday expressed deep shock at the death of blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider and demanded exemplary punishment for the killers.

Raising a point of order, ruling Awami League’s Advisory Council member Tofail Ahmed described Rajib as the “first martyr” of what he termed as the second phase of the Liberation War and proposed the House observed one-minute silence in memory of the blogger.

In response, Speaker Abdul Hamid said he understood the sentiments expressed by the MP, but reminded him that there was no scope to do so as per law.

In presence of Parliament leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Speaker, however, conveyed the sympathy expressed by the members to the bereaved family.

Rajib, one of the organisers of the mass movement at Shahbagh, was brutally killed on Friday night.

In his speech, Tofail said Rajib was killed at a time when the people of the country were united demanding trial of war criminals.

The Parliament also expressed grief at the killing of Siraj Munshi by the activists of Chhatra Shibir recently.