Attacks on journos, intellectuals worry UN

The United Nations has expressed deep concern over attacks on journalists and intellectuals in Bangladesh in the recent days.

"…it's a matter of tremendous concern that different journalists and other intellectuals have been attacked," Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said at a regular briefing at the UN headquarters in New York yesterday.

He said the UN has been calling for the respect of basic rights in Bangladesh, including the rights of people to freedom of expression.

Replying to another query whether he or any other UN official was going to Bangladesh for discussion, the UN deputy spokesman said: "I don't have any high-level travel to Bangladesh to announce at this stage…But you're aware of our concerns."

Blogger and online activist Oyasiqur Rahman Babu was stabbed to death in broad daylight in Tejgaon Industrial area of Dhaka on Monday morning.