Protest over Bangladeshi failure to solve 2016 murders

Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…

Bangladeshi gay community members gathered in London yesterday to protest the police failure to make any arrests or even publish a report on the 2016 murders of gay activists Xulhaz Mannan and Tonoy Mojumdar in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Protesters gathered at the Bangladeshi High Commission in London to demand action from Bangladeshi authorities who investigated the 2016 murders of prominent LGBT activists. (Photo courtesy of Riaz Osmani)

Bangladeshi activist Riaz Osmani writes:

It’s been two years since a prominent gay rights activist Xulhaz and gay cultural activist Tonoy were brutally murdered in Bangladesh by Islamic militants.

The authorities in Bangladesh have been very slow to pursue the killers. Submission of a police report has been postponed 23 times already and there has been no headway. We want justice for the murders of our friends.

Gay rights activists Peter Tatchell (left) and Riaz Osmani (right) were among the protesters demanding action from Bangladeshi authorities in the case of the 2016 murders of who investigated the 2016 murders of Xulhaz Mannan and Tonoy Mojumdar. (Photo courtesy of Riaz Osmani) — Gay rights activists Peter Tatchell (left) and Riaz Osmani (right) were among the protesters demanding action from Bangladeshi authorities in the case of the 2016 murders of Xulhaz Mannan and Tonoy Mojumdar. (Photo courtesy of Riaz Osmani)

Members from the Bangladeshi gay community in London held a peaceful protest rally in front the Bangladesh High Commission in London this evening. A letter was handed over to the office. The event was organized by a very close friend of Xulhaz called Mazharul Islam. It was attended by UK’s famous gay rights and human rights activist Peter Tatchell, who gave a speech at the end.

Special thanks to Mazharul for organizing the event and, when Peter gets involved, things happen. It was wonderful to see so many members of the Bangladeshi gay community in London assemble together.

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There were members from the English and other communities as well. We hope that the Bangladesh High Commission and indeed the Bangladesh government will take notice and the police administration will be shamed into giving the matter due importance.

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