Bangladeshi freethinker shot dead

Freethinking writer and politician shot dead in Bangladesh:

Shahzahan Bachchu was known locally and within the secular Bangladeshi movement as an outspoken, sometimes fiery activist for secularism. He printed poetry and books related to humanism and freethought via his publishing house Bishaka Prakashani (Star Publishers). He was also a political activist, serving as former general secretary of Munshiganj district unit of the Communist Party.

He was reportedly shot and killed this evening near his village home at Kakaldi in Munshiganj district near the capital Dhaka.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God.

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Kabir
5 years ago

This is very tragic. No one should ever be murdered for their views, however distasteful the views may be the to the majority of a country. Recently, in Pakistan, a prominent Sikh leader in Peshawar was murdered in what seems to be a target killing.

We don’t discuss Bangladesh enough on BP. Perhaps because we have no contributors who actually live there. There is a lot going on to discuss though, including Sheikh Hasina’s essentially one-party rule.

Kabir
5 years ago
Reply to  Razib Khan

I guess so. But I think some of the inordinate attention paid to India-Pakistan can be given to Bangladesh. It would make BP a bit more balanced.

We have no Nepalis either, so we don’t get anything from that very interesting country either.

hoipolloi
hoipolloi
5 years ago

@The fool hath said in his heart, there is a God.

RIP Shahzahan Bachchu

My condolences to his family, near and dear ones. We are divided by a common heritage.

-P. Rao

Shafiq
Shafiq
5 years ago

It is not yet known who or which political-non political group has killed him. The way he was killed, assassins coming on motorcycles, quick shooting and then riding away fast, is more characteristic of political, mafia hit squad than religious groups. Religious groups in Bangladesh do not use firearms to kill atheists. They use sharp weapons to hack blasphemers to death. Its the way of religiously sanctioned killing probably.

V.C. Vijayaraghavan
5 years ago

The problem is not fool or his heart. It is a violent desire to extirpate a life who thinks differently.

Kabir
5 years ago

Agreed.

AnAn
5 years ago

Inshallah may martyr Shahzahan Bachchu know peace in heaven. May he ever smile down upon us. May his inspiration live through us always. May his beloved Bengal and Bangladesh move from perfection to perfection.

Brown Pundits