UNESCO chief condemns 'brutal murder' of Bangladeshi journalist

The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has condemned the brutal murder of a Bangladeshi journalist known for his bold reporting on criminal gangs, drug traffickers and Maoist insurgents.

UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura called the killing of Manik Shaha "a tragic illustration of the need to secure the rule of law in the interest of democracy."

Mr. Shaha, a veteran journalist and press freedom activist who was a correspondent of the daily New Age newspaper and contributor to the BBC’s Bengali-language service, is reported to have been killed on 15 January when assailants stopped his vehicle and threw a bomb at him in Khulna, in southwestern Bangladesh. He is said to have told colleagues he had received death threats that he suspected might have come from criminal gangs.

Mr. Matsuura, in a message yesterday, also welcomed a pledge by Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia, to find and punish the killers.

"I am confident that the country's authorities will do all they can to improve the safety of journalists, whose work provides an essential contribution to democracy," Mr. Matsuura added. "This pledge echoes the international community's resolve to prosecute and punish crimes against journalists."