Blogger Ananta murder: Demand for permanent memorial construction

Science writer and blogger Anant Vijay Das' comrades have demanded a permanent memorial be built at the site of his killing. Such demands were made at the commemoration ceremony organized on the 8th anniversary of Anant's murder on Friday.

Eight years ago, on May 12, 2015, a group of extremists hacked Anant Vijay Das to death on the bank of Dastidar Dighi in Subidbazar area of the city. After Anant's murder, a temporary monument was constructed at the site at the initiative of late youth leader Moinuddin Khan Jalal.

Every year on the day of Ananta's killing, wreath-laying and memorial services are organized at this temporary memorial.

Speakers at the commemoration ceremony on Friday afternoon said that ever since Anant Vijay's murder, there has been a demand to construct a permanent monument at this place. Despite repeated assurances in this regard from the City Corporation, no effective initiative has been taken so far.

Expressing their anger, the speakers quickly demanded the construction of a permanent monument in memory of Anant.

Conducted by Ganajagran Manch, Sylhet spokesperson Debashish Debu, the speakers also said that although the verdict of Anant Vijay's murder has been passed, one of the suspects has been acquitted in the verdict. His family expressed their dissatisfaction with this verdict. So we demand the state to file an appeal against this judgment in the high court. At the same time, I also demand the speedy execution of the verdict.

Former organizing secretary of Awami League Central Committee Misbah Uddin Siraj, head professor of physics department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology spoke among others. Nazia Chowdhury, Anant Bijay's sister-in-law Samar Bijay C Shekhar, environmental movement organizers Abdul Karim Kim and Tofazzal Sohail, Anantar case lawyer Monir Uddin Ahmed, youth union presidium member Matiur Rahman, culture activist Ripon Chowdhury, Basad leader Pranab Jyoti Pal, communist movement's Niranjan Sarkar. Apu, Anant Bijay's friend Abul Kashem, dramatist Arup Baul, Ujjal Chakraborty, organizer of Ganajagran Manch Rajeev Russell, Debjyoti Das Debu, Shahiduzzaman Paplu, general secretary of student union Nahid Hasan Thanh, former president Sapta Das, general secretary of Democratic Student Council Sylhet Tanjina Begum etc. .

At the end of the discussion, various organizations and individuals laid wreaths at Anant's temporary memorial. Wreaths were laid by Ganajagran Manch Sylhet, Jalal Antar, Students Union, Youth Union, Nagarnath etc.

Later, a wreath was also presented by the Combined Theater Council, Sylhet. Natya Parishad Director Anup Kumar Dev, President Rajatkanti Gupta, Vice President Supriya Dev Shanto, General Secretary Mostak Ahmed, Former President Niranjan Dey, Former General Secretary Shamsul Basit Shero, Abdul Qayyum Mukul, Former Vice President Khwaz Rahim Sabuj, Senior Theater Workers Nilanjan Das Tuku and others were present.

Incidentally, on May 12, 2015, this free-spirited writer was publicly hacked to death in front of his house in Subidbazar, Sylhet city.

On March 30 last year, Sylhet Anti-Terrorism Tribunal Judge Nurul Amin Biplab Anant Bijay Das murder case sentenced 4 people to death and acquitted one person.

Those sentenced to death are Abul Hossain (25) of Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet, Faisal Ahmad (27) of Khalpar Talbari upazila, Mamunur Rashid (25) of Birendranagar (Bagli) of Tahirpur, Sunamganj and Abul Khair Rashid Ahmad (25) of Faljur village of Kanaighat. Besides, controversial blogger Safiur Rahman Farabi was acquitted from the case. Apart from Abul Khair Rashid Ahmad, other three convicts are absconding.

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