Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Bangladesh to hang four over atheist blogger's murder

Bangladesh to hang four over atheist blogger's murder

An anti-terror court in Bangladesh sentenced four people to death Wednesday for killing an atheist blogger seven years ago when the country saw a spate of murders of secular and gay activists by suspected Islamist extremists.

Ananta Bijoy Das, 33, whose writing was critical against Islam and other organised religions, was hacked to death by a group of masked men in front of his home in the northeastern city of Sylhet in May, 2015.


He was a regular writer for the Mukto-Mona blogsite, which was launched and moderated by Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-born US citizen who was hacked to death by Islamist extremists in the capital Dhaka in February the same year.

The special counter-terrorism Tribunal in Sylhet found four young men guilty of murdering Das, but acquitted a key Islamist suspect, prompting the family of the blogger to announce that they would appeal in a higher court.

Judge Nurul Amin Biplob said the four convicts were not connected with any Islamist extremist outfit, but he said Das was murdered because of his anti-religion, progressive and humanist writings, which "angered extremists".

They killed him "in an effort to inject fear among similar scientific and progressive writers," he said, according to a short verdict, a copy of which has been procured by AFP.

Das was among more than half dozen atheist bloggers, writers and gay rights activists killed by suspected Islamist extremists in a campaign between 2013 and 2016 which forced many secular bloggers and activists to flee the country.

A local Islamist group linked to the South Asia branch of Al-Qaeda initially claimed responsibility for most of the murders -- a claim rejected by Bangladesh police.

Bangladesh has since launched a massive crackdown against the extremists, killing more than 100 suspected Islamist militants including their top leaders. Hundreds were detained.

Bangladesh is an officially secular country and more than 90 percent of its 169 million population are Muslims.

Death sentences are common in Bangladesh with more than 2,000 people currently on death row. All executions are carried out by hanging, a legacy of the British colonial era.

More For You

Police Recover £1M Stolen Jewellery in Hounslow, Owners Sought

The jewellery was largely taken from London’s South Asian community in Hounslow between 2023 and 2024. (Photo: Met Police)

Stolen jewellery worth £1m recovered in Hounslow, police seek owners

POLICE are seeking to reunite stolen jewellery worth over £1 million with its rightful owners after recovering the items during a proactive operation across London and the home counties.

The recovered collection includes identifiable pieces such as a World War One officer’s Rolex watch, a gold locket containing old pictures, an engraved gold ring, and an engraved gold pocket watch from Harlow Bros Ltd.

Keep ReadingShow less
british-muslims

The initiative aims to track incidents, raise awareness of hate crime, and provide better victim support.

iStock)

Government announces fund to combat anti-Muslim hate

THE UK government has announced a new fund to monitor anti-Muslim hate and support victims, with applications opening on 7 April.

The initiative aims to track incidents, raise awareness of hate crime, and provide better victim support.

Keep ReadingShow less
Probe launched over racist broadcast at Kent asylum centre

FILE PHOTO: Entrance of Manston short-term holding centre for migrants, near Ramsgate in southeast England. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Probe launched over racist broadcast at Kent asylum centre

AUTHORITIES have launched an investigation following reports that a racist message was broadcast over portable radios at an asylum processing centre in Kent.

The incident occurred at the Manston site, where small boat arrivals are processed by the Home Office and its contractor, Mitie, reported The Guardian.

Keep ReadingShow less
Protest against dog crackdown ahead of Modi's Sri Lanka visit

Sri Lankan animal rights activists take part in a demonstration in Colombo on April 3, 2025, to protest the round-up of stray dogs a day ahead of a visit by Narendra Modi. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Protest against dog crackdown ahead of Modi's Sri Lanka visit

SRI LANKAN animal rights activists marched on Thursday (3) to protest the round-up of stray dogs a day ahead of a visit by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Authorities in Colombo and the Buddhist pilgrim city of Anuradhapura have reportedly deployed dog catchers to impound hounds ahead of Modi's visit, which begins on Friday (4).

Keep ReadingShow less
modi-trump-getty

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi hold a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Explained: Impact of US tariffs on Indian exports

The United States has announced a 27 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods entering the American market.

Industry experts have said these duties will pose challenges for Indian exports, though India's position remains more favourable than some of its competitors.

Keep ReadingShow less