Hasina promised to do her best over Avijit’s murder, says father Prof Ajay Roy

She called up Prof Ajay Roy on Feb 28, two days after Avijit’s murder.

The development emerged during a bdnews24.com interview with the former Dhaka University (DU) teacher on Wednesday.

US citizen Avijit, a bioengineer by profession, and his blogger wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya were attacked on the DU campus on Feb 26.

Bonya, who lost a thumb, went back to the US for treatment for her injuries.

She alleged police stood by silently when they were being attacked.

Avijit had been threatened on social media for his secular writings.

Prof Roy filed a case over the incident and blamed extremists.

He said four ministers – AMA Muhith, Hasanul Haq Inu, Rashed Khan Menon and Asaduzzaman Noor – had visited him after the murder.

Prime Minister Hasina had rushed to the house of Ganajagaran Mancha activist blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider after his murder in 2013.

Hasina, whose husband scientist M Wazed Mia was a student of Prof Roy, offered her sympathies.

However, neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor the government informed the media of the telephone call. Prof Roy, too, did not speak about it either.

It came to light recently after Dhaka University Prof Anowar Hossain disclosed it.

“I don’t know why they are not talking about it... I can’t just go ahead and speak about the matter,” Prof Roy told bdnews24.com.

He said he had known the prime minister for long.

“She might have spoken out of personal relations, not as prime minister,” the Ekushey Padak winner said.

Roy, a freedom fighter, recalled he was not home when Hasina had called on Feb 28.

“I got back home at night. My daughter-in-law (his younger son Anujit Roy’s wife) gave me the number saying ‘PM called. You weren't at home.

“‘She gave me a number and said ‘tell sir to call me at this number no matter how late he comes back’,” he quoted the daughter-in-law as telling him.

“We spoke for around half an hour.”

The prime minister asked him what she could do for him.

Prof Roy said he had told Hasina that such incidents when she was in power were unacceptable.

“She told me, ‘I will try my best sir. You have my sympathy. I am with you. I will try my best with our security forces and DB to identify Avijit’s killers’,” he recounted.

About the ministers’ visit, he said, “I’ve known Muhith Bhai (brother) for a long time. He was senior to me by several years and was the VP of SM Hall.

“Then came Inu, Rashed Khan Menon and my student and cultural activist Noor.”

‘Not satisfied’

The Detective Branch (DB) is investigating the murder and the FBI is assisting them.

RAB has arrested one Shafiur Rahman Farabi, known for inciting extremism on social media, over the killing.

But the killers have remained identified.

The FBI team has visited the murder scene and spoken to Prof Roy.

Police have handed over evidence related to the murder to FBI for test.

DB said they had a list of several suspects and were planning to arrest them.

“I have faith in the prime minister’s efforts and sincerity. She can give the highest order.

“But detectives and police will have to identify and arrest the killers. They have proven their capability in the past,” Avijit’s father said.

Asked about the probe progress, he said: “I am not satisfied. Only lunatic Farabi has been arrested.

“DB say they have kept 10-12 people under watch but what they meant by it is unclear.”

(Additional reporting by Faysal Atik)

[bdnews24.com will soon run the video interview with Prof Ajay Roy over his son’s killing]