Skip to main content

FM
Former Member

Rezaul Karim Siddique: Murdered Bangladeshi professor 'not an atheist', daughter says

 Image caption Professor Siddique taught English at the local university

The daughter of a Bangladeshi professor who was hacked to death in a murder echoing the killing of several secularists says he was not an atheist.

So-called Islamic State (IS) said it was behind the death of Rezaul Karim Siddique, who was killed on Saturday.

A statement from the militant group accused him of "calling to atheism".

But his daughter Rizwana Hasin told the BBC that her father believed in God, and that she had no idea why he was targeted.

"The investigators are investigating still, and we are still waiting to see the results," she said.

"We still don't know what was the reason. Maybe [a] misunderstanding, maybe something else. It's still a maybe for me and it's still a maybe for my family."

Siddique, 58, was a professor of English at Rajshahi University in the country's north-west. He was attacked with machetes as he left for work.

He founded a music school and edited a literary magazine, his family said.

Police believe he may have been targeted by extremists because he was involved in cultural activities. They have detained a member of an Islamist student organisation for questioning.

Hardline Islamist groups dislike anyone involved in the cultural field, the BBC's Dhaka correspondent Akbar Hossain says.

Bangladeshi authorities have rejected IS' claim to that attack, saying the organisation does not exist in the country.

Siddique is the fourth professor at the university to be have been killed in recent years by suspected Islamists.

Earlier this month, a Bangladeshi law student who had expressed secular views online died when he was hacked with machetes and then shot in Dhaka.

Last year, four prominent secular bloggers were also killed with machetes.

The four bloggers had all appeared on a list of 84 "atheist bloggers" drawn up by Islamic groups in 2013 and widely circulated.

There have also been attacks on members of religious minorities including Shia, Sufi and Ahmadi Muslims, Christians and Hindus.

Muslim-majority Bangladesh is officially secular but critics say the government has failed to properly address the attacks.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Bangladesh LGBT ditor hacked to death

 

Police in Bangladesh say two people including a leading gay rights activist and editor at Bangladesh's only LGBT magazine have been hacked to death.

The US ambassador to Bangladesh condemned the killing of Xulhaz Mannan, who also worked at the US embassy.

Another person was also injured when the attackers entered a Dhaka flat.

Since February last year suspected militants have killed several secular or atheist writers and members of religious minority groups.

The two men were murdered two days after a university teacher was hacked to death by suspected Islamist militants.

So-called Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility - but the Bangladeshi government insists there is no IS presence in the country.

 

"I am devastated by the brutal murder of Xulhaz Mannan and another young Bangladeshi," said US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat.

"We abhor this senseless act of violence and urge the Government of Bangladesh in the strongest terms to apprehend the criminals behind these murders," she added.

 

BBC Bengali Service editor Sabir Mustafa said staff at Roopbaan, which had not been condemned by the government and received some support from foreign embassies, had been careful to protect their identities but had not believed their lives were at risk.

Suspected extremists in Bangladesh are gaining a sense of security that they can carry out killings with impunity, he says.

A British photographer who knew Mr Mannan and the other victim, known as "Tonoy" and named in Bangladeshi media as Tanay Mojumdar, said they and other friends had set up Roopbaan with the aim of spreading tolerance.

Homosexuality is technically illegal in Bangladesh and remains a highly sensitive issue in society.

Both men were openly gay and believed that if more gay Bangladeshis came out then the country would have to accept them, the photographer said.

They were also were behind the annual "Rainbow Rally", held on Bengali New Year, 14 April, since 2014. This year's rally was banned by police as part of widespread security measures.

"Both were extremely gentle, non-violent and aware that being openly gay and active in their work was a personal danger," the photographer said.

Their killings were likely to spread fear among Bangladesh's gay community, he said.

"Until a year ago the only threat to coming out was shame of the family and having to start a new life elsewhere in Bangladesh. Now it's one of danger," he said.

Long line of killings

Meanwhile Bangladesh's best known blogger said he had received a death threat on Sunday.

Imran Sarker, who led major protests by secular activists in 2013 against Islamist leaders, said he had received a phone call warning that he would be killed "very soon".

Image copyright AFP/Getty
Image caption Students have protested against the previous killing, which saw a university professor hacked to death on Saturday

Earlier this month, a Bangladeshi law student who had expressed secular views online died when he was hacked with machetes and then shot in Dhaka.

Last year, four prominent secular bloggers were also killed with machetes.

The four bloggers had all appeared on a list of 84 "atheist bloggers" drawn up by Islamic groups in 2013 and widely circulated.

There have also been attacks on members of religious minorities including Shia, Sufi and Ahmadi Muslims, Christians and Hindus.

Two foreigners - an Italian aid worker and a Japanese farmer - have also been killed.

Muslim-majority Bangladesh is officially secular but critics say the government has failed to properly address the attacks.

FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×