Tonu murder: Govt urged to arrest killers

Progressive Students’ Alliance and Samrajyabad Birodhi Chhatra Oikya on Saturday said a culture of impunity is prevailing well in the country which is deterring the government to hold trial in the case of Sohagi Jahan Tonu murder.
‘After observing the investigation into the murder, it turns now clear that the government takes no interest to hold proper trial of Tonu murder case,’ said Foysal Mahmud, the coordinator of Chhatra Oikya, the combines of the 11 left-leaning student organisations.
Instead, he claimed that the law enforcing agencies were intimidating the parents of slain Tonu to thwart proper investigation and trial.
Foysal Mahmud was speaking at a news briefing at Madhu’s Canteen on the Dhaka University campus ahead of a countrywide half-day hartal (general strike) to be enforced on April 25, demanding justice for Tonu.
The left-leaning platforms comprising of various student organisations had announced the half-day general strike on April 7.
The 19-year-old girl, Tonu, also a second-year history student of Comilla Victoria Government College and a theatre activist, was raped and murdered at a location inside Mainamati Cantonment in Comilla on March 20.
‘It seems some influential quarter is involved in the shocking crime and plans are on to cover them up,’ he observed.
Foysal said Bangladesh has become a haven for murderers, rapists and plunderers as the country lacks justice.
While dwelling on picketing, he said the members of the platforms would do picketing during the strike hours and take to the key streets across the country.
He also urged the students of the public universities to boycott classes on that day and extend their supports to the strike.
Thirteen political parties, including, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, and Ganashanghati Andolan expressed their solidarity with the half-day shutdown, he said.
Meanwhile, a five-day cultural protest programme seeking justice for the slain theatre activist ended at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Saturday.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net