EU, UK slam priest killing

The European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) yesterday condemned the Sunday’s killing of a Hindu priest in the northern district of Panchagarh. In a statement, the EU, a bloc of 28 European nations, called upon the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. “EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, Pierre Mayaudon, firmly condemns the murder of Joggeshwar Roy, a Hindu Priest from Panchagarh and the attack on Gopal Chandra Roy, who received injuries while trying to save the priest,” said the statement. “Ambassador Mayaudon conveys his condolences to the family of the deceased and wishes a prompt and full recovery to Gopal Chandra Roy,” it says.
“Ambassador Mayaudon observes that an attack on any religion is an attack against all religions and has urged that all relevant official authorities will ensure thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice,” added the statement.
Meanwhile, British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake also condemned the attack that resulted in the killing of the priest and injury of another individual, saying that nothing can justify attacks on people because of their religious faith.
“I am horrified at the savage attack on Mr J Roy and Mr GC Roy. Nothing can justify attacks on people because of their faith or beliefs. Freedom of religion is a universal right. The UK stands alongside the people of Bangladesh and against all forms of extremism,” she tweeted yesterday.
Meanwhile, BNP yesterday termed cowardice the killing of the Hindu temple priest.
BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in a statement, strongly condemned and protested the incident and said, “There’s no example of hated misdeeds of killing a religious priest in the history of Bangladesh. A very few nonsense and derailed people at the instigation of a dangerous vested quarter are carrying out such cruel misdeeds. The government can’t evade its responsibility for it.” Meanwhile, three people have so far been arrested in connection with the killing, adds UNB. Panchagarh Police SP Gias Uddin said police arrested JMB men Khalilur Rahmna, 45, and Babul Hossain, 40, and Jahangir Alam, 25, an activist of local Islami Chhatra Shibir, during drives on Sunday and Monday. The arrested JMB activists were accused in the 2005 series bomb attack case, said police.
Several thousand people staged demonstrations in the upazila headquarters yesterday  protesting the killing of the Hindu priest. People from all walks of life took part in the human chain programme and demanded immediate arrest and punishment of  the killers. Priest Jogeshwar Roy, 50, was hacked to death and Gopal Chandra Roy, 35, a devotee, was shot in an attack by assilants in Debiganj upazila of the district on Sunday morning.

 

EU, UK slam priest killing

The European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) yesterday condemned the Sundays killing of a Hindu priest in the northern district of Panchagarh. In a statement, the EU, a bloc of 28 European nations, called upon the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, Pierre Mayaudon, firmly condemns the murder of Joggeshwar Roy, a Hindu Priest from Panchagarh and the attack on Gopal Chandra Roy, who received injuries while trying to save the priest, said the statement. Ambassador Mayaudon conveys his condolences to the family of the deceased and wishes a prompt and full recovery to Gopal Chandra Roy, it says. Ambassador Mayaudon observes that an attack on any religion is an attack against all religions and has urged that all relevant official authorities will ensure thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice, added the statement. Meanwhile, British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake also condemned the attack that resulted in the killing of the priest and injury of another individual, saying that nothing can justify attacks on people because of their religious faith. I am horrified at the savage attack on Mr J Roy and Mr GC Roy. Nothing can justify attacks on people because of their faith or beliefs. Freedom of religion is a universal right. The UK stands alongside the people of Bangladesh and against all forms of extremism, she tweeted yesterday. Meanwhile, BNP yesterday termed cowardice the killing of the Hindu temple priest. BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in a statement, strongly condemned and protested the incident and said, Theres no example of hated misdeeds of killing a religious priest in the history of Bangladesh. A very few nonsense and derailed people at the instigation of a dangerous vested quarter are carrying out such cruel misdeeds. The government cant evade its responsibility for it. Meanwhile, three people have so far been arrested in connection with the killing, adds UNB. Panchagarh Police SP Gias Uddin said police arrested JMB men Khalilur Rahmna, 45, and Babul Hossain, 40, and Jahangir Alam, 25, an activist of local Islami Chhatra Shibir, during drives on Sunday and Monday. The arrested JMB activists were accused in the 2005 series bomb attack case, said police. Several thousand people staged demonstrations in the upazila headquarters yesterday protesting the killing of the Hindu priest. People from all walks of life took part in the human chain programme and demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the killers. Priest Jogeshwar Roy, 50, was hacked to death and Gopal Chandra Roy, 35, a devotee, was shot in an attack by assilants in Debiganj upazila of the district on Sunday morning.