Calling upon the country’s people to wake up, Gonoforum president Dr Kamal Hossain on Monday said it is time to spread strong protests everywhere against the incidents of extrajudicial killing, forced disappearance and abduction to have such acts stopped immediately. “Chandan Sarker has awoken us by laying down his life. We used to keep silent fearing to be victims of enforced disappearance, but now we won’t remain silent anymore,” the eminent jurist said. Addressing a protest rally on the court premises here, Dr Kamal said, “The killings of seven people, including Chandan Sarker, are not a matter of only Narayanganj….it’s an issue of the country’s 16 crore people. We must protest it and spread the movement everywhere.” Narayanganj District Bar Association arranged the programme protesting the killing of its member Chandan Sarker who among the seven people has been killed after abduction recently in the district. The lawyers also boycotted court proceedings to register their protest against the gruesome murder. They also handed over a cheque of Tk 2 lakh to Chandan Sarker’s family. Addressing the rally as the chief guest, Dr Kamal demanded the government immediately hunt down those involved in the seven murders and mete out exemplary punishment to them. Kamal also urged the lawyers to be vocal for ensuring the prompt trial of the killers. “We cant’ wait for 25-30 years for getting justice.” He also called upon the lawyers to get united and not to bow down to bribe takers. Chaired by Narayanganj District Bar Association president Sakhwat Hossain Khan, the rally was addressed, among others, by its general secretary Zakir Hossain, ex-president Anisur Rahman Dipu, ex-general secretary Khokan Saha. – UNB
