A barrage of protest programmes were held and condemnations continued to pour in yesterday demanding punishment for the killers of journalist Golam Rabbani Nadim.

Different journalists organisations based in Dhaka and other regions of the country, rights bodies and teachers' associations held human chains, rallies and issued statements protesting the murder.

In a statement , Ain o Salish Kendra said such an incident is a threat towards the freedom of the press.

"The impact of such incidents is far-reaching, which narrows the role of the media in establishing accountability and good governance. It is unfortunate that in the last two decades, not a single trial of the killings of journalists was completed nor the punishment of anyone was ensured," reads the statement.

The platform demanded ensuring punishment of the killers to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday said the government will do whatever it takes to bring the killers to book.

"Already the prime suspect and other culprits have been arrested. Everything will be done to ensure capital punishment. We will also have to remain alert so that such incidents do not happen in future," Hasan Mahmud told reporters at an orientation programme of a university in Chattogram.

In the capital, two journalists' forums -- Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists -- organised a protest rally in front of Jatiya Press club demanding exemplary punishment for the killers of Nadim within a shortest possible time.

Addressing the event, Omar Faruk, president of a faction of BFUJ, said, "Nadim's killing was pre-planned. I don't think that only the chairman is involved. The real culprits will be found if the law enforcers investigate properly."

Journalists all over the country continue to protest the murder of their peer Golam Rabbani Nadim. Yesterday, they held rallies and human chains, and brought out processions demanding exemplary punishment for the killers. The photo was taken in the capital. Photo: Star

Former president of BFUJ Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul urged the owners of the organisations, for those Nadim used to work, to stand by the side of the bereaved family.

Jatiyatabadi Shikkhak Forum, a platform of pro-BNP teachers of Jahangirnagar University, issued a statement protesting the killing.

"Question has arrived whether justice will be served in the killing of Nadim as justice was not ensured in many sensational murders including the killings of Journalist couple Sagar-Runi," reads their statement.

Bakshiganj upazila Press Club also held a human chain from which local journalists threatened to call for a tougher movement if the killers of Nadim did not get capital punishment.

From another human chain in port city, Chattogram Union of Journalists said the murder of Nadim has pointed fingers to the growing insecurity faced by journalists across the country.

In protest, Munshiganj Press Club organised a human chain from which they demanded to formulate a law to ensure safety of journalists.

Covering their faces with black clothes, Electronic Media Journalists Association, a platform of television journalists of Sylhet, observed a sit-in programme.

Leaders of the forum said since journalists report against all wrongdoers, oppressors or corrupt people for the sake of welfare of the state and society, it becomes a threat for them.

They also demanded to bring the case under special tribunal for swift completion of trial.

Noakhali journalists also held a human chain on Noakhali Press Club premises. Also, journalists of Chapainawabganj formed a human chain in front of the district press club.

Besides, journalist organisations in Gazipur, Tangail, Jashoe, Brahmanbaria, Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna, Cumilla, Bhola, Barishal, Rajshahi, Narshingdi, Rangpur, Gopalganj and Chandpur also protested the murder.

Golam Rabbani Nadim, 42, a Jamalpur-based journalist, was attacked by unidentified miscreants in Bakshiganj Bazar area while he was returning home around 10:00pm on Wednesday.

His family members alleged that followers of Mahmudul Alam Babu, chairman of Sadhurpara Union Parishad, carried out the attack.