Six long years since blogger Avijit Roy was brutally murdered by extremists, it is a relief to see that justice has finally been delivered, as five have been sentenced to death, while another has been handed lifetime imprisonment.
While this is a landmark verdict for upholding secular values in a country that was built upon these values, and there is reason to be glad about the ruling, ultimately, until every single individual responsible for such heinous crimes is convicted, Bangladesh continues to be a dangerous place for free thinkers and writers.
To that end, it is unfortunate that, despite the verdict, justice is far from ensured, as the two principal terrorists involved in the attacks -- Syed Ziaul Haque alias Major Zia and Akram Hossain -- remain on the run, and have never been caught. This is a monumental failure on the part of our law enforcement authorities, and apprehending these culprits must be prioritized.
Additionally, when such verdicts take years and face delay after delay, and perpetrators are allowed to get away with crimes of such an unspeakable nature, it bodes poorly for Bangladesh as a whole, encouraging such extremist behaviour while discouraging victims from seeking justice.
While the government has taken religious extremism and militancy seriously in recent times, and their efforts must be commended, the fact remains that, despite being a nation that prides itself on its secular past and beginnings, there remain certain fundamental issues in the country with regards to extremist behaviour, and an overall curtailing of free speech and expression.
This is an issue that is rooted in our culture and our values, and these deep-rooted aspects that continue to harm us must be changed, so that crimes of this nature do not keep happening.
