A magazine called ‘Boys Love World’ organized a seminar where the risks facing secular writers and the minority LGBT community in Bangladesh, were discussed in depth. The seminar which took place on the 20th of January was conducted in London, the capital of the United Kingdom. The seminar was graced with world-renowned human rights workers and activists. Ms. Bonnya Ahmed, the wife of brutally murdered writer Avijit Rai, was one of those who delivered a speech in the seminar.
Apart from that the other attending guests were Mariyam Namazie of ‘Britain’s Council of Ex-Muslim Society’, Sadia Hameed, human rights worker Geeta Saigal, Bangladesh’s human rights worker Ajanta Deb Roy, Amnesty International’s Simon Ware, LGBT rights worker Riaz Osmani, Sultanul Arefin Siam, Syed Sunvi Anick Hossain from an organization called ‘Religion Question’s, Tofail Hossain, Sujan Chandra Dev amongst others.
The volunteers of ‘Boys Love World’ conducted the seminar. The magazine’s editor, Syed Isteak Hossain Shawon delivered the opening speech, where he talked about LGBT rights in Bangladesh, the blogger murders, the current
government’s stance amongst other things. The first part of this Programme was hosted by Mr Abu Hanif and the second part were hosted by Mr Arman Ahmed and Mr Md Enyetul Huda.
Deceased writer Avijit Roy’s wife Ms.Bonnya Ahmed stated, “Bangladesh has now converted into a fascist state”. She also spoke about her memories with Avijit Roy as well. Human rights worker Geeta Saighal spoke about Bangladesh’s history, and put it into perspective against the blogger murders and the recent spike of fundamentalism, during her very elaborate and informative speech.
Ex-Muslim society’s Mariyam Namazie also condemned the brutal murders committed by Bangladesh’s fundamentalists, in her speech. She encouraged everyone to fight these Islamists without fear.
