The attack on Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal is a consequence of drifting apart from the spirit of Liberation War, said civil society representatives yesterday.

Demanding immediate trial for all militant attacks in the country, they called upon people to be aware of militancy. They also urged the government to subdue the militant activities with iron hand.

They made the call at a protest rally staged by Alliance for Resistance of Terrorism and Communalism, a civic platform, at the capital's Shahbagh.

After the rally, they also brought out a torch procession that paraded from Shahbagh intersection to Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University.

Prof Zafar Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) in Sylhet was stabbed by a youth on the university campus on March 3.

Speaking at the rally, Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad General Secretary Advocate Rana Dasgupta said communalism and fundamentalism have taken a firm root in the country as it is being led without the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War.

“We have drifted apart from the spirit of the war in 1971. It has resulted in the attack on Prof Iqbal…,” he said. DU Vice Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman, in his speech, stressed the need for such demonstrations.

The platform's Convenor Abed Khan, also a veteran journalist, Joint Convenor Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, and Ekattor TV Director (news) Syed Ishtiaq Reza, also spoke.