DHAKA: European Union (EU) urged to ‘stand together against violent extremists” in Bangladesh, and bring the perpetrators of bloggers Washiqur Rahman and Avijit Roy killings to justice.

They also termed the murders of the bloggers as attacks on free speech and democracy.

EU made the calls through a statement issued by European External Action Service (EEAS) office spokesperson Catherine Ray on Wednesday.

The statement said: “The murder of Washiqur Rahman in Dhaka on 30 March is the second attack in a month that has targeted bloggers in Bangladesh. The killings of Washiqur Rahman and Avijit Roy are an attack on free speech and democracy”.

“Freedom of expression is recognized as a human right by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bangladesh is a part,” it adds.

It reads: “The EU reiterates its deep commitment to freedom of expression and freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief. Tolerance and dialogue are essential elements of a democratic society.”

“Government authorities, political parties and civil society should stand together against the actions of violent extremists in Bangladesh. The perpetrators of these murders must be swiftly brought to justice," it added.

On February 26, writer and blogger Avijit Roy was hacked to death and his wife injured in Dhaka University area.

A month after, another blogger Washiqur Rahman was hacked dead by two madrasa students in city’s Tejgaon area in broad daylight on March 30.

BDST: 1317 HRS, APR 02, 2015