July 5, 2004

H.E. Mohsin Ali Khan, High Commissioner
High Commission for the People's Republic of Bangladesh
275 Bank Street, Suite 302,
Ottawa, ON K2P 2l6

Excellency,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.

CJFE wishes to express our shock and dismay at the killing of Bangladeshi journalist Humayun Kabir Balu in the city of Khulna on June 27, 2004. Balu, 58, was an outspoken critic of the organized crime that has racked Khulna and the surrounding region of Southwest Bangladesh.

Balu was killed by homemade bombs thrown at him by an unidentified assailant outside his office. Balu's son, Asif Kabir, was also seriously wounded in the attack.

The Janajuddha (People's War), a faction of the Purbo Banglar Communist Party, has claimed responsibilty for the killing as they did for the killing of Khulna journalist Manik Saha on January 15 of this year.

CJFE calls on the Bangladeshi government to bring those who killed Bula to justice and end the reign of terror inflicted by organized crime that has earned the Khulna region the name "the valley of death" among local journalists. CJFE urges the government do everything in their power to stop this wave of violence against the media that has claimed the lives of six journalists in the past four years.

We request your Embassy convey our grave concerns to the Government of Bangladesh.

I look forward to receiving your prompt reply.

Yours truly,

Arnold Amber
President

Case file number: PL-O414