Bangladesh shuts Islamist website after blogger murder

Dhaka, Feb 17 (AFP) Bangladesh has shut down a blog site after it was linked to the murder of a anti-Islamist blogger who helped organise protests against the leaders of the largest Islamic party, officials said Sunday. Blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider, 35, was hacked to death near his home in the capital Dhaka Friday night after he joined a huge protest demanding the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami party leaders who are on trials for war crimes. Police have yet to comment on a possible motive, but his brother said Haider was targeted by Jamaat's student wing for his online activities. Fellow blogger Shakil Ahmed said a pro-Jamaat website had last week named Haider as a target. Jamaat issued a statement today condemning the murder and said neither it nor its student wing had anything to do with the crime. Officials of the telecoms regulator told AFP that the Sonar Bangla blogsite had been shut down since yesterday for spreading "hate speech and causing communal tension". "It's been closed down," vice president of the regulator Giasuddin Ahmed told AFP. Demonstrations championed by online activists have seen thousands take to the streets for the last two weeks demanding the execution of Jamaat leaders accused of genocide, murder and rape during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. Family and friends said Haider played a key role in organising the protests and had an argument with Jamaat supporters just days before the murder. (AFP) ASY 02172342 NNNN