Secular protesters at a torch-lit vigil for Avijit Roy in Dhaka (photo)
Following the murder,Thursday, of Avijit Roy, US-based writer and a moral leader of secularist and freethought activists in Bangladesh, his elderly father Ajoy Roy commented on the “threatening” messages his son had received prior to the attacks. They came from extremists who complained his writing insulted Islam, Ajoy Roy explained, because “He was a secular humanist and has written about 10 books.” He lamented, “This Bangladesh which was built by the blood-sacrifice of the martyrs has now turned into a den of militants.”
Criticism of a “culture of impunity” and the apparent failure of authorities to act on strong, credible threats by known individuals in the past year alone has been a common feature of the international outcry over the killing, including our own commentary which named one of the hostile individuals Fellow humanist bloggers like Asif Mohiuddin have called for pressure to be piled on the Bangladesh government.
Roy’s daughter, Trisha Ahmed, a student in the United States, has also written about her father in tribute and calling for his story to be shared far and wider. Her words below, originally posted on Facebook, are re-published with permission.
Avijit Roy
“My dad was a prominent Bengali writer, most famous for his books about science and atheism. He and my mom went to Bangladesh last week to publicize his books at Bangladesh’s national book fair. 15 hours ago, Islamic fundamentalists stabbed my dad to death. My mom was severely wounded from the attack and is still in the hospital. His death is headline news in Bangladesh.
The reason I’m sharing this is less for me and more for my dad. He was a firm believer in voicing your opinion to better the world.
He and my mom started dating when I was six years old. In the twelve years that followed, he became my friend, my hero, my most trusted confidante, my dance partner (even though we’re both terrible dancers), and my father. Not once did he tell me to simmer down or be more polite; he taught me to be informed, bold, and unafraid.To say that I’m furious or heartbroken would be an understatement. But as fucked up as the world is, there’s never a reason to stop fighting to make it better. I’ll carry the lessons he taught me and the love he gave me forever. I love you so much, Dad. Thank you for every single thing
What would help me the most right now is if everyone (even people I’ve never met) could share his story. His story should be heard in the US because Bangladesh is powerless; it’s corrupt, there is no law and order, and I highly doubt that any justice will come to the murderers. I want his story to be on US headline news, not only Bangladesh’s. If you could just do all you can to spread word of what’s happened, I would appreciate it so so much. Inform your schools, your communities, write all that you can. Please don’t allow my dad to die in vain.
Please use your influence to help bring some sort of justice to the atrocious acts that have been committed against my parents.
Please, share.
Avijit Roy, by his daughter: “everyone… share his story” #WordsCannotBeKilled http://t.co/ifZY2xhr9P pic.twitter.com/PI8LcLKnhQ
— IHEU (@IHEU) February 28, 2015