Press release May 11, 2015
Bangladesh: Third Blogger Murdered
Freedom House condemns the murder of blogger Ananta Bijoy Dasnot only because of the loss of life but because the attack also targets free expression,
Washington
In response to the fatal attack on blogger Ananta Bijoy Das by masked men with machetes in Sylhet, Bangladesh, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“Freedom House condemns this murder not only because of the loss of life but because the attack also targets free expression,” said Daniel Calingaert, executive vice president. “The government of Bangladesh should ensure that activists and journalists are free to express their views without fear of violence and bring to justice those responsible for the attacks.”
Background:
Das, the third blogger murdered this year, wrote favorably of secularism and science and was critical of religion’s large role in society. All three bloggers were active in the Shahbag movement, which seeks capital punishment for those convicted of atrocities during Bangladesh’s 1971 war for independence.
Bangladesh is rated Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2015, Partly Free in Freedom of the Press 2015, and Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2014.