Prof Azad came under attack on February 27 in front of Bangla Academy while he was returning to his DU residence from Amar Ekushey Book Fair. Later he was found dead in a Munich apartment in Germany on August 12, four days after he went there on a research fellowship.

Addressing a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar, leaders of Sammilita Nagorik Samaj, a combine of citizens from all walks of life, condemned the government for its inaction to bring the culprits to justice.

Family members including Prof Azad's wife Latifa Kohinoor and daughter Mouli Azad said the fundamentalist forces killed him in a planned way.

DU Teachers' Association President Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said the government failed to arrest any culprits though one year has passed as the fundamentalist forces inside the government launched the attack.

Dr Muhammad Samad, SA Malek, Salauddin Badal, Kamal Lohani also addressed the rally.

Later a procession was brought out lighting candle from the Shaheed Minar and ended at the place where Prof Azad was chopped.

Six opposition-backed student organisations and left-leaning Bangladesh Chhatra Union also demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the culprits responsible for the attack on Prof Azad.

The student bodies lit candles at the place where he was chopped in the evening.

Progressive Student Alliance took out a procession and held a rally on DU campus.

Speakers at the rally said the attack on Prof Azad was not only an attack on a person but also an attack on the freedom of speech.