Blogger Avijit Roy hacked to death
Blogger Avijit Roy was hacked to death by unidentified persons on Dhaka University campus at about 9:30pm on Thursday.
Attackers also hacked and wounded Avijit’s wife Rafida Ahmed Banya who was accompanying him at the time of attack.
Police said a group of men attacked the couple and hacked them with cleavers at TSC’s Bat Tala area. It was reported that attackers mostly hit on their heads.
Seriously wounded, they were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where Avijit, who is also a photojournalist, died at 10:30pm, confirmed DMCH police outpost in charge inspector Mozammel Haque.
DMCH emergency unit duty doctor Sohel Ahmed told NTV Online that excessive blood loss and internal brain injury caused death of Avijit. ‘There were at least nine signs of stab on his head,’ he added.
He also said that Rafida Ahmed’s condition was stable.
Avijit is the founder of Bangla blog ‘Mukto Mona’ and is a writer. He is the son of former Dhaka University physics professor Ajoy Roy. The professor visited DMCH after the incident.
Dhaka University acting proctor Amzad Ali, during his visit at DMCH, said they had come to know that the writer used to receive threats from different quarters for his write-ups.
‘He might have been killed for the write-ups,’ he said and suspected that the killers of popular writer Humayun Azad might have been from same quarter.
During a visit, it was found that the police officials and Criminal Investigation Department officials was securing the crime scene.
While contacted, Ramna Division police assistant commissioner Shibli Noman said they were suspecting that the blogger might have been killed for his write-ups in blogs against militancy groups.
‘There are similarities between the case of Humayun Azad and blogger Rajib killing with this case. We have recovered two cleavers and a bag from the spot,’ he said.
The official however said that the police was yet to arrest any suspects in connection with the killing.
Avijit Roy is used to live with his wife in the USA. He was popular for his widely read blog ‘Mukto Mona’ of which he was the founder too. There are about a dozen books written by him.
Earlier on February 27, 2004, prominent writer and Dhaka University professor Late Humayun Azad was also hacked by the assailants at DU area when he was going home after visiting Ekushey Book Fair.
In the similar manner, on February 15, 2013, blogger Rajib Haider was killed in Pallabi allegedly for his write-ups in the blog.
Protesting the attack on the couple, Pragatishil Chhatra Jote, a union of left leaning student organisation have announced a gathering in front of Aparajeyo Bangla in Dhaka University at about 10:00 am on Friday.
Meanwhile, the teachers of the university will form a human chain in front of Central Shaheed MInar premises at about 11:00 am on Friday.
READ MORE:
FBI willing to investigate Avijit killing
Avijit’s father seeks justice from PM
Case filed over blogger Avijit murder