Right after spreading of anti-Semitic, anti-US and pro-Islamist campaign by a reporter with Associated Press in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s military backed interim government has suddenly withdrawn police protection from the residence of Weekly Blitz editor Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury as of last night. When contacted, the duty officer at Uttara Police station told Blitz that the “protection was withdrawn due to shortage of forces”, while another source on condition of anonymity disclosed that the police protection was withdrawn due to specific briefs from the top brass.
It may be mentioned here that, police protection was given at the residence and office of the Weekly Blitz editor when the office of the newspaper was bombed in July 2006 by an Islamist militant group named Khatmey Nabuat Movement [KNM]. During end of September 2006, police protection was withdrawn from the office of Weekly Blitz, while the office of the newspaper was attacked by armed cadres belonging to BNP’s cultural front Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha [JASAS]. Since then, the government never accorded protection to the office of the Bangladeshi journalist.
This time again, police protection was withdrawn from the residence of the Weekly Blitz editor.
US Congress, through resolution 64, asked the Bangladesh government to drop the false sedition, treason and blasphemy charges, which were brought in 2004 by the Islamist Coalition government. The Congress also demanded protection for the Weekly Blitz editor.
It is feared that, some vested quarters might be conspiring another attack at the residence of the Weekly Blitz editor as the police protection is withdrawn from his residence similarly as it was withdrawn from his office in 2006.
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury faces sedition, treason and blasphemy charges for confronting Islamist millitancy and radical Islam; for advocating interfaith understanding and for demanding relations between Bangladesh and Israel.
A large number of anti-Semitic groups like Hizb Ut Tahrir recently declared all out offnesives on all pro-US and pro-Semitic individuals and establishments in Bangladesh.
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is the editor & publisher of The Weekly Blitz. He is a journalist, columnist, author and Peace activist. He is the recipient of PEN USA Freedom to Write Award 2005, Recipient of American Jewish Committee Moral Courage Award 2006.
Salah can be reached at: salahuddinshoaibchoudhury@yahoo.com
