Stop such cowardice attempts

At the late hours of July 2006, when my newspaper office was bombed by the members of notorious Islamist group named Khatmey Nobuat Andolan [KNA], the then government assured stern action against the culprits. But, instead, law enforcing agencies did not arrest anyone in this regard and finally killed the case, which we lodged with police right after the incident.

Reason behind KNA's anger on Blitz was, my newspaper continued to publish news, articles and editorials defending the Ahmedia religious minority group in Bangladesh, who had been constant subject of various forms of intimidation and harassment both by the government and by the fanatic Muslims belongs belonging to Khatmey Nabuat Andolan and Khatmey Nabuat Movement. Leader of KNA, Mufti Noor Hussain Noorani several times phoned me and threatened to prepare for death. I told him repeatedly that it was useless for him to threaten me as me and my newspaper fears none but God.

Although KNA bombed the office of Blitz, but due to our continuous writings in favor of Ahmedias, finally persecution, intimidation and harassment on this small religious minority group stopped in Bangladesh. But, sadly enough, government led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party did not withdraw ban on publication of religious books of Ahmedias in Bangladesh. Blitz shall not rest until the government withdraws such illegal and unreasonable ban on the publications of any religious group. This is a clear violation of rights of minority and right of self expression.

Next attack on our newspaper office took place in October 2006 by the members of thugs belonging to Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Government remained silent and did not take minimum action against the attackers.

In March 2008, armed members of Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] stormed into our office and abducted me and another colleague at gun point. RAB looted valuables from my office. They blind folded me and assaulted while I was taken into their custody. Series of complaints were lodged with the military backed interim government as well as law enforcing agencies. But there was never any action. Looted goods were never returned.

And lately, just three days back, armed hooligans belonging to the ruling party attacked my office in broad day light. They shouted with abusive words on me saying 'Mossad Agent' 'Israeli Spy' etc. They physically assaulted me and my colleague and looted my personal laptop as well as snatch the portrait of US Congressman Mark Steven Kirk, which was on display in my room. Attackers ransacked my office and abused the female members of my newspaper. Three of the attackers tried to rape one of my female colleagues. The incident was immediately reported to police and members of law enforcing and intelligence agencies rushed to the spot. Illegal actions of the hooligans belonging to the ruling party, in presence of the members of the law enforcing agencies, remind us of the retreat of the old ghosts.

This time, the attackers took one Shamim, who introduced to be a member of DGFI. After the incident, I personally checked the case of Shamim and was sure that, this man was using the name of DGFI during the illegal activities. Here I shall put two important points. One, why the ruling party thugs put Shamim at the front? Because, they knew well that attack on a newspaper office will go into the attention of the media. And they purposefully used the name of DGFI just to undermine the image of this institution. It may be recalled here that, a number of top policymakers of the present government are continuing to demand cutting down the range of activities of this institution, as they feel, DGFI stands as a watchdog of every deeds of the politicians and this institution also stands strong in defending the sovereignty of Bangladesh. So, any politician, dreaming of doing something against the sovereignty of Bangladesh, will surely love to see a powerless DGFI.

Secondly, when I lodged the case with Paltan Police Station, in the original draft I mentioned about the attack in my office by the members of the ruling party thugs. But, police, as usual, refused to register the case. They were very much inclined in seeing the words 'ruling party thugs' excluded from the complaint and prominent mentioning of the DGFI man being present there. Should I not listen to the suggestion of the members of law enforcing agencies, they would have never recorded the case. And a severe notoriety would have gone unrecorded. So, I had to exclude the words, just for the sake of getting the case recorded. But, in fact, the attack was completely conducted by armed cadres of the ruling party. They were exhibiting illegal weapons in presence of police and other intelligence agencies. And, police was rather captive in the grips of circumstances.

One thing I should mention here. Members of Blitz have learnt to live in extreme adversity since 2003 when I was arrested by the Islamist alliance government. My staffs suffered numerous threats and repressions. But, they never left me or abandoned me. So, I should be one of the luckiest and very proud editors in the world, who can claim, yes, I have a team of people, who are working with me, extending their supports to my work, knowing the every possibility of threats and intimidations. And, the coward attackers should take note; they will never be able to defeat us, unless it is wished by the God. Source of power and strength of Blitz is the God. We fear none but the God. And, we know, such cowardice attacks may put us into temporary obstacles or odds, but, it will never be any cause for us to abandon the good fight we are continuing against religious fanatics, jihad, killing of innocent people, religious anarchy etc. We shall never stop in spreading the message of interfaith harmony, building bridges of culture and establishing peace amongst people of all religious beliefs.

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Stop such cowardice attempts

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