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Former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque says the judiciary has to take its fair share of blame for the culture of impunity that led to Avijit Roy's murder.
Published : 28 Feb 2015, 08:33 PM
Speaking to bdnews24.com at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Saturday, he said that suspected killers getting away with murders of free thinkers and intellectuals before only encouraged other zealots to commit similar crimes.
The former top judge was referring to suspects of such killings easily securing bail from the High Court.
Writer-blogger Avijit Roy and his wife Rahida Ahmed Bonya were hacked by unidentified miscreants near Dhaka University’s TSC on Thursday night.
He died at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital soon after he was rushed there.
His wife and fellow blogger lost a finger and was seriously injured in the head. She is being treated at a private Dhaka hospital.
The couple lived in the US, but were in Bangladesh to launch newly published books written by Avijit at this year's book fair.
"I must say after Avijit's murder, that we need to stand up to this together," the former chief justice said.
According to Haque, the judiciary was also responsible.
"Those who had granted bail to suspects of such murders are responsible for the bloodbath that continues and of which Avijit is the latest victim. This incident proves that our police are inefficient."
Bangladeshi-American Roy, 42, founded ‘Mukto-Mona’ (Free Mind) blog site and used to write against communalism and religious superstition.
Fundamentalists had threatened him on several occasions for his writings.
Police are yet to identify the killers, but suspect fundamentalists for the murderous assault because Avijit's killing resembles those of legendary writer Humayun Azad, blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider and Rajshahi University teacher AKM Shafiul Islam.
All of them were known for their bold stance against religious extremism and communalism.
Azad was killed in a similar attack near TSC in February 2004.
In 2013, Rajib Haider was killed near his home at Dhaka's Mirpur.
One of the suspects of that murder secured bail from the High Court, which was later stayed by the Appellate Division.
One Farabi Shafiur Rahman, who was arrested on charges of inciting more attacks on bloggers like the one on Haider on the web and social media then, is now out on bail from the High Court.
Even now there is considerable traffic on the web supporting Avijit's murder, with Islamist radicals posting laudatory messages and tweeting extensively.
Without mentioning specific incidents, Justice Haque advised judges to be more careful about bail.
"I urge judges to be very careful in granting bail in these matters. Or else, more such incidents may happen."
He called on everyone to stand united against such heinous killings.
