UK minister concerned over attacks on publishers

UK Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hugo Swire has expressed deep concern over the attacks on publishers and bloggers in Bangladesh.

“Deeply concerned by another horrific attack on bloggers and publishers in Bangladesh. Protecting universal free speech is vital,” Hugo Swire tweeted yesterday following the attacks on two publishers on Saturday.

Deeply concerned by another horrific attack on bloggers and publishers in Bangladesh. Protecting universal free speech is vital.

— Hugo Swire (@HugoSwire) November 1, 2015

Faisal Arefin Dipan, owner of Jagriti Prokashani in Dhaka, was cleaved to death by unknown assailants at his office on the second floor at Aziz Market in Shahbagh area.

On Saturday, unknown assailants critically injured Shuddhoswar's Ahmedur Rashid Tutul and bloggers Tareque Rahim and Ranadipam Basu at Lalmatia, Dhaka.

Dipan and Tutul were publishers of slain secularist writer-blogger Avijit Roy who was also hacked to death near the TSC at Dhaka University on February 26.