Notes of condemnation and outrage poured in from the diplomatic corps as embassies and intergovernmental organisation delegations weighed in on Saturday’s deadly attack on publishers and bloggers.
The German embassy in Dhaka yesterday condemned the murder of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan and the life-threatening assault on publisher Ahmedur Rashid Tutul, blogger Ranadipam Basu and poet Tareq Rahim in Dhaka on Saturday.
The attacks are the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting freedom of conscience and freedom of speech that have rocked the country over the last month.
These include the bombing of a Shia religious gathering in Old Dhaka just over a week ago, several recent attacks on religious minorities across the country and a year of assassinations of liberal-minded bloggers and writers.
German Ambassador Dr Thomas Prinz said: “These attacks further increase a climate of fear in this country. We support the government of Bangladesh in openly rallying behind the universal principles of freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
“The recent attacks on liberal minds in Bangladesh are very concerning. Secularism is one of the core values of this country. Bangladesh is known for a peaceful coexistence of people with different religions and opinions. The recent incidents are not only assaults on individuals, but attacks on the fundamental right of freedom of expression.
The ambassador called upon the government to ensure the safety of liberal thinkers in the country, to strengthen freedom of speech for every citizen irrespective of religious or political belief and to guarantee a quick, neutral and credible investigation of the murders to bring those responsible to justice.
The European Ambassador to Dhaka Pierre Mayaudon said the incidents called for the government to ensure that the freedoms of expression and belief are respected.
The United Nations also condemned the attacks and expressed deep concern over threats to free speech, calling the murder and violent assaults “unacceptable.”
“The attacks were aimed to intimidate and restrict the right of individuals to express themselves freely,” the UN statement said.
UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh, Robert D Watkins, said: “These killings must be condemned at all levels of political and religious leadership in order to prevent further attacks.”
He added: “The perpetrators must be brought to justice and the authorities need to provide immediate protection to citizens thought to be at risk.”
The French embassy in a press release said: “France, sharing the pain of the relatives of the victims, condemns with the utmost firmness these obscurantist attacks, and stands with all women and men of good will in Bangladesh to fight against violent extremism and terrorism.
“Dipan and Tutul had courageously published the works of Avijit Roy, the blogger and writer assassinated on February 26, 2015, including ‘Biswaser Virus’ [The Virus of Faith] and ‘Obishawasher Dorshon’ [the Philosophy of Disbelief].”
The United States embassy also issued a condemnation of the attacks and expressed solidarity with the victims’ families, saying: “Our thoughts are with their families, friends, and the Bangladeshi people.
“Like the murders of Niloy Chakrabarti, Oyasiqur Rahman, Ananta Bijoy Das, and Avijit Roy earlier this year, these heinous acts underscore the importance of our governments’ joint efforts to counter violent extremism.
“We stand with Bangladeshis who reject these vicious acts and work to protect freedom of expression.”