Faisal Arefin Dipan

Faisal Arefin Dipan
Native name ফয়সল আরেফিন দীপন
Born 12 July 1972
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Died 31 October 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Cause of death Murdered by suspected religious extremists for publication of progressive and freethinking books
Nationality Bangladeshi
Education BA (Hons) and MA in Economics
Alma mater Dhaka University
Occupation Publication
Employer Jagriti Prokashony
Known for Publishing
Spouse(s) Razia Rahman Jolly
Children Ridat Farhan and Ridma Adnin
Parents
  • Abul Qasem Fazlul Huq (father)
  • Farida Pradhan (mother)
Relatives Shuchita Sharmin (sister)

Faisal Arefin Dipan (ফয়সল আরেফিন দীপন) (12 July 1972 – 31 October 2015) was a publisher of Bangladesh who had collaborated with many prominent writers of Bengali literature like Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, Syed Shamsul Haque, Ahmed Sofa and Sufia Kamal, as well as eminent scholars and personalities, such as, Bodruddin Umar, Serajul Islam Choudhury, Syed Moqsud Ali, Muhammad Habibur Rahman and Ahmed Sharif, and most notably the secular science writer Avijit Roy.

Dipan was brutally hacked to death inside his office at the hands of suspected religious extremists for his association with Avijit Roy and other freethinking, secular and atheist writers.[1][2][3][4]

Early Life and Education

Dipan was born in an academic family. Both his father Abul Qasem Fazlul Huq, a scholar and a professor of Bengali literature, and mother Farida Pradhan, principal house tutor of Rokeya Hall, retired from Dhaka University.[5]

Dipan passed his Secondary School Certificate (1989) and Higher Secondary Certificate (1991) examinations from Udayan Bidyalaya (inside Dhaka University campus area) and Dhaka College respectively. Dipan obtained his BA (Hons) and MA in Economics from Dhaka University during mid-late 90s.

Career

Dipan grew up around authors and writers. His father Abul Qasem Fazlul Huq, a professor of Bengali and an author, was active in the scholarly circles. Dipan started his publishing house, Jagriti Prokashony (জাগৃতি প্রকাশনী), at a small scale during his undergraduate days in 1992.

As stated in a commemorative article in The Daily Star on November 22, 2015, "Growing up in a house full of books, Faisal Arefin Dipan had a lifelong fascination for books. He believed that books could rejuvenate a society, a state and a nation." [6]

In the first year of its full commercial operations, Jagriti had managed to bring out twelve publications including Nilima Ibrahim's critically acclaimed work, Ami Birangona Bolchhi (আমি বীরাঙ্গনা বলছি) ("As a War Heroine, I Speak" in English) that tells the stories of Bengali women and girls who were raped and tortured by Pakistani soldiers and their collaborators during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.The book documents the horrific experience of survival of these women and girls in Pakistani military camps and takes a critical look at the social structure that they struggled to rejoin after the war was over.[7][8]

In the twenty-three years of operation of Jagriti, Dipan had published around sixteen hundred books and collaborated with many famous and upcoming writers of Bangladesh like Sufia Kamal, Nirmalindu Goon, Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah, Badruddin Umar, Selina Hossain, Shawkat Osman, Selim Al Deen and Muhammed Zafar Iqbal to name a few.[9]

Jagriti Prokashony

Besides working with the prominent authorities and scholars of Bengali literature, Jagriti created a platform for many new and promising poets and writers. The genres of Jagriti publications cover a wide spectrum, such as, children’s books, humour, fantasy, biography, science, history, science fiction, novels, poetry and scholarly essays.

In one of his television interviews in 2012, Dipan had expressed his aim to stand apart from many others by supporting both "creative entertainment" and "enrichment of mind" streams of works. He felt that the latter category was becoming subdued in the recent days and more needed to be done to revive the intellectual stream in Bangladeshi publications.[10]

Jagriti's most notable publications include

Dipan was an active member in the publishers’ associations in Bangladesh and had held several positions in the executive committees. He was actively involved in the annual Ekushey Book Fair (একুশে বই মেলা) and other Bengali book fairs. Dipan had appeared in newspaper and television interviews, and talk shows to discuss publication industry in Bangladesh.[11][12][13][14]

Despite the tragic death of Dipan, Jagriti Prokashony remains fully operational today under the management of DIpan's spouse Razia Rahman Jolly (a Senior Medical Officer at the Dhaka University Medical Centre).[15]

Association with Avijit Roy

Avijit Roy, the slain Bangladeshi-American online activist, writer and blogger, was known to Dipan from his early childhood in the Dhaka University campus area where they lived in the same neighbourhood and attended Udayan Bidyalaya.

Avijit had two of his significant works, Philosophy of Disbelief (অবিশ্বাসের দর্শন) and Virus of Faith (বিশ্বাসের ভাইরাস: বিশ্বাসের বিবর্তনীয় বিশ্লেষণ), published from Jagriti Prokashony.[16]

Dipan had received several death threats for his association with Avijit Roy since the rise of religious extremism in Bangladesh in recent years.[17][18]

Murder

Dipan was brutally hacked to death by a group of suspected religious fundamentalists in the afternoon of 31 October 2015, while he was working alone inside his office at Aziz Supermarket in Dhaka. His body was found in a pool of blood by the local market authorities and his father, who had to break into Jagriti Prokashony office left locked from inside by the murders, and had several injury marks of sharp weapons like machetes. Dipan was pronounced dead as soon as his body was rushed to the nearby hospital.[1][2][3]

Dipan's murder coincided with the attack on another publisher of Avijit Roy, Ahmedur Rashid Tutul (proprietor of Shuddhoswar Prokashony), who survived a similar brutal hacking inside his office in a different part of Dhaka in the same afternoon.[19][20]

Some local sleeper cells of international terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State have claimed responsibilities of the attacks on secular writers, free thinkers and human rights activists in Bangladesh.[21][22][23]

The law enforcement authorities of Bangladesh have been in active pursuit of the perpetrators with some success since their anti-terror drive has intensified following the Holy Artisan terror attacks in Gulshan.[24][25][26]

Dipan's death was widely covered in global and local media, had sparked outrage among general public and received strong condemnation from many organisations including the UN and the US Embassy in Dhaka.[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]

First Death Anniversary

Dipan Smriti Sangsad (Dipan Memorial Council) held a memorial event on 31 October 2016 to mark the first anniversary of Dipan's death at the Teacher-Student Centre auditorium of Dhaka University. Eminent academics, writers, publishers, journalists, cultural personalities and activists like Anisuzzaman, Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Ajoy Roy, Abul Barkat, AAMS Arefin Siddique, Ashraf Uddin Chowdhury, Mamunur Rashid, Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, Imran H Sarker, Golam Mortaja and Khan Mahbub participated in the discussion. A book to commemorate Dipan's life and work was launched at the event.[38][39][40][41][42]

The speakers, while addressing almost a five hundred strong audience from all walks of life, expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction at the slow progress of the murder investigation. They highlighted the prevalence of "a culture of impunity and lack of accountability" in Bangladesh that was leading to the recurrence of heinous crimes like the brutal hacking of Dipan and others.[38][39][40][41]

The day was also marked by a large human chain of mourners and protesters, near Aziz Super Market in Dhaka, demanding immediate arrest and speedy trial of Dipan's killers.[38][43][44]

All major TV channels in Bangladesh provided special coverage of the event in their national news segments.[38][45][46][47][48][49][50][51]

A more private memorial event was organised at the Gulshan residence of late Syed Moqsud Ali (an eminent scholar and professor of Dhaka University who had his work published from Jagriti) where a large number of Dipan's oldest friends held discussion on Dipan and offered prayers for his departed soul.

Dipan's Selected Television Interview Footages

References

  1. 1 2 "Bangladeshi publisher hacked to death". The Daily Mail - UK. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  2. 1 2 Press, Associated (2015-10-31). "Secular publisher hacked to death in latest Bangladesh attacks". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  3. 1 2 "Bangladeshi secular publisher hacked to death". BBC News. 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  4. ↑ "Secular publisher hacked to death in Bangladesh". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  5. ↑ "Dipan murder sparks anger, outcry". The Daily Star - Bangladesh. 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  6. ↑ "Dipan believed in books' power to revitalise society". The Daily Star - Bangladesh. 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  7. ↑ "আমি বীরাঙ্গনা বলছি". Goodreads. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  8. ↑ "As a War Heroine, I Speak". The Daily Star. 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  9. ↑ "Jagriti Prokashony : Publisher | Boi-Mela -List of Books". www.boi-mela.com. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  10. ↑ Jay Mad (2012-02-22), Jagriti Prokashoni - Ntv, retrieved 2016-11-06
  11. ↑ Jeehan Ahmad (2012-02-22), Jagriti Prokashoni - Ntv, retrieved 2016-10-01
  12. ↑ Jeehan Ahmad (1969-12-31), Jagriti Prokashoni Boimela 2012, retrieved 2016-10-01
  13. ↑ "সব ধরনের পাঠকের জন্যই আমরা বই প্রকাশ করি-ফয়সল আরেফিন দীপন". boinews24.com. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  14. ↑ Jeehan Ahmad (2012-02-19), Jagriti Prokashoni - Boimela 2012, retrieved 2016-10-05
  15. ↑ "For Dipan". The Daily Star - Bangladesh. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  16. ↑ CNN, Ivan Watson, Saeed Ahmed and. "Criticizing Islam a 'sin' in Bangladesh: Blogger's wife". CNN. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  17. ↑ "Bangladeshi Publisher Gets Death Threats". Indian Express. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  18. ↑ Barry, Ellen; Manik, Julfikar Ali (2015-10-31). "2 Men Who Published Writings Critical of Extremism Are Stabbed in Bangladesh". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  19. ↑ "Publisher of secular books killed, three bloggers wounded in Bangladesh". Indian Express. 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  20. ↑ "Bangladesh Publisher Hacked to Death by Foes of 'Secularists'". VOA News. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  21. ↑ "Al-Qaeda affiliate claims killing of secular publisher in Bangladesh". Asia Times. 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  22. ↑ "Ansar Al Islam claims killing, attack on publishers, bloggers - New Age". 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  23. ↑ "Thousands march in Dhaka demanding justice for publisher-blogger killed by attackers - Xinhua | English.news.cn". news.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  24. ↑ ANI (2016-08-24). "Bangladesh Police arrest killer of Publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  25. ↑ "Trainer of Dipan killers arrested". 2016-09-05. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  26. ↑ "দীপন হত্যার ১ বছর". একুশে টেলিভিশন. 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  27. ↑ "UN condemns Faisal killing". Prothom Alo - Bangladesh. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  28. ↑ "Director-General calls for investigation into the killing of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan". UNESCO. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  29. ↑ Dhaka, Jason Burke Saad Hammadi in; agencies (2015-11-02). "Bangladesh publishers burn books in protest at killing of secularists". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  30. ↑ Rahman, Shaikh Azizur. "Bangladeshis Outraged Over Attacks on Secular Publishers". Voice of America. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  31. ↑ "UN, EU, US, France condemn attacks on publishers, bloggers". The Observer - Bangladesh. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  32. ↑ "Large crowd attends Dipan's burial". The Independent - Bangladesh. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  33. ↑ "Joint Statement: Calling on the Canadian government to help secularists in Bangladesh". CJFE - Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  34. ↑ "Bangladesh publishers burn books to protest latest killing". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  35. ↑ "Statement from the U.S. Embassy Dhaka on the Attack on Publishers/Bloggers". U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh. 2015-11-01. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  36. ↑ "State must offer better protection to writers, publishers and others threatened by extremists in Bangladesh – Zeid". www.ohchr.org. UN Human Rights. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  37. ↑ "Bangladesh: Authorities must protect secular writers and their publishers PEN International". www.pen-international.org. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  38. 1 2 3 4 RAPID PR (2016-11-01), BVS-DIPON HOTTAR 1 BOSOR., retrieved 2016-11-02
  39. 1 2 "Culture of impunity prevails: Prof Serajul". The Daily Star. 2016-11-01. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  40. 1 2 "দীপন হত্যার বিচার না হওয়ায় ক্ষোভ". bangla.bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  41. 1 2 "'যারা ধর্মের নামে মানুষ হত্যা করে তাদের সঙ্গে আপসের সুযোগ নেই'". প্রথম আলো. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  42. ↑ "দীপনের আলোতে প্রাণময়". NTV Online. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  43. ↑ "দীপন হত্যার দ্রুত বিচার দাবিতে মানববন্ধন". প্রথম আলো. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  44. ↑ RAPID PR (2016-11-01), SOMOY-DIPON HOTTAR 1 BOSOR., retrieved 2016-11-02
  45. ↑ RAPID PR (2016-11-01), ETV-DIPON HOTTAR 1 BOSOR., retrieved 2016-11-02
  46. ↑ RAPID PR (2016-11-01), GTV-DIPON HOTTAR 1 BOSOR., retrieved 2016-11-02
  47. ↑ RAPID PR (2016-11-01), CNL 71-DIPON HOTTAR 1 BOSOR., retrieved 2016-11-02
  48. ↑ RAPID PR (2016-11-01), NTV-DIPON HOTTAR 1 BOSOR., retrieved 2016-11-02
  49. ↑ RAPID PR (2016-11-01), CHI-DIPON HOTTAR 1 BOSOR., retrieved 2016-11-02
  50. ↑ RAPID PR (2016-11-01), ATN-B-DIPON HOTTAR 1 BOSOR., retrieved 2016-11-02
  51. ↑ RAPID PR (2016-11-01), BHK-DIPON HOTTAR 1 BOSOR., retrieved 2016-11-02
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