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Bangladeshi academic hacked to death Bangladeshi academic hacked to death
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A university professor in Bangladesh has been hacked to death in an assault police say bears the hallmarks of previous killings by Islamist militants of secular and atheist activists. A university professor in Bangladesh has been hacked to death in an assault police say bears the hallmarks of previous killings of secular and atheist activists by Islamist militants.
English professor Rezaul Karim Siddique, 58, was hacked from behind with machetes as he walked to from his home to the bus station in the north-western city of Rajshahi, where he taught at the public university. Prof Rezaul Karim Siddique, 58, was attacked from behind with machetes as he walked from his home to a bus station in the north-western city of Rajshahi, where he taught English at the public university, police said.
“His neck was hacked at least three times and was 70-80% slit,” said Rajshahi police commissioner Mohammad Shamsuddin. “By examining the nature of the attack, we suspect that it was carried out by extremist groups.” “His neck was hacked at least three times and was 70-80% slit,” said the Rajshahi police commissioner, Mohammad Shamsuddin. “By examining the nature of the attack, we suspect that it was carried out by extremist groups.”
Police have named no suspects but Shamsuddin said the pattern of the attack fitted with previous killings by Islamist militants. Police have not named any suspects but Shamsuddin said the pattern of the attack fitted that of previous militant killings.
Nahidul Islam, a deputy commissioner of police, said Siddique was involved in cultural programmes, including music, and set up a music school at Bagmara, a former bastion of an outlawed Islamist group, Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Nahidul Islam, a deputy commissioner of police, said Siddique was involved in cultural programmes and set up a music school at Bagmara, a former bastion of an outlawed Islamist group, Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
“The attack is similar to the ones carried out on [atheist] bloggers in the recent past,” Islam said.“The attack is similar to the ones carried out on [atheist] bloggers in the recent past,” Islam said.
Sakhawat Hossain, a fellow English professor from the university and a friend, said Siddique played the Tanpura, a musical instrument popular in South Asia, and wrote poems and short stories. Sakhawat Hossain, a friend and fellow English professor from the university, said Siddique played the tanpura, a musical instrument popular in South Asia, and wrote poems and short stories.
“He used to lead a cultural group called Komol Gandhar and edit a biannual literary magazine with the same name. But he never wrote or spoke against religion in public,” Hossain said.“He used to lead a cultural group called Komol Gandhar and edit a biannual literary magazine with the same name. But he never wrote or spoke against religion in public,” Hossain said.
Police said Siddique was the fourth professor from Rajshahi University to have been murdered. In February, a court handed down life sentences to two Islamist militants for the murder of another professor, Mohammad Yunus. Police said Siddique was the fourth professor from the university to have been murdered. In February, a court handed down life sentences to two Islamist militants for the murder of Prof Mohammad Yunus.
Bangladeshi Islamist militants have been blamed for a number of murders of secular bloggers and online activists since 2013, most recently in the capital, Dhaka, early this month.Bangladeshi Islamist militants have been blamed for a number of murders of secular bloggers and online activists since 2013, most recently in the capital, Dhaka, early this month.
Police said that in each of the attacks unidentified assailants hacked the victim to death with machetes or cleavers.Police said that in each of the attacks unidentified assailants hacked the victim to death with machetes or cleavers.
Eight members of banned Islamist group Ansarullah Bangla Team, including a senior cleric who is said to have founded the group, were convicted late last year for the murder of atheist blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider in February 2013. Eight members of the banned Islamist group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), including a senior cleric who is said to have founded the group, were convicted late last year for the murder of atheist blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider in February 2013.
The killings have sparked outrage at home and abroad, with international rights groups demanding that the secular government protect freedom of speech in the Muslim-majority country. The killings have sparked outrage at home and abroad, with international rights groups demanding that the secular government protect freedom of speech in the Muslim-majority but secular country.
Ansar al-Islam, a Bangladesh branch of al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, this month claimed responsibility for the murder of 26-year-old Nazimuddin Samad, a law student who was killed on the streets of Dhaka, according to US monitoring group SITE. Ansar al-Islam, a Bangladesh branch of al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, this month claimed responsibility for the murder of 26-year-old Nazimuddin Samad, a law student who was killed on the streets of Dhaka, according to the US monitoring group SITE.
Police, however, blamed the Ansarullah for the murder. Police, however, blamed the ABT for the murder.
Bangladesh authorities have consistently denied that international Islamist networks such as al-Qaida or Islamic State, which recently claimed responsibility for the murders of minorities and foreigners, are active in the country. Authorities have consistently denied that international Islamist networks, such as al-Qaida or Islamic State, which recently claimed responsibility for the murders of minorities and foreigners, are active in the country.