A culture of impunity and lack of accountability in the state is leading to recurrence of criminal activities, including targeted killings, noted academic Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury told a discussion marking publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan's first death anniversary yesterday.

Dipan Smriti Sangsad held the discussion at Dhaka University. The publisher of Jagriti Prakashani was brutally hacked to death by suspected militants at his office on October 31 last year.

Prof Emeritus Anisuzzaman, noted educationist Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Dipan's father Prof Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque of DU, slain writer Avijit Roy's father Prof Ajoy Roy, the Sangsad President and economist Abul Barkat, DU Vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Bangladesh Economic Association President Prof Ashraf Uddin Chowdhury, cultural personality Mamunur Rashid, Shaheedjaya Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, Gonojagoron Mancha faction Spokesperson Imran H Sarker, and Dipan's colleagues Golam Mortaja and Khan Mahbub also spoke.

A commemorative book on Dipan was launched.