Dhaka: Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique on Thursday inaugurated the construction work of a monument in memory of slain writer Avijit Ray.

The vice-chancellor paid tributes to Ray by placing wreaths at his portrait on the premises of Teacher-Student Center where the promising writer was hacked to death by assailants during a Bangla Academy Book Fair in 2015.

Avijt's father Professor Ajoy Ray of DU Physics Department, Economist Professor Abul Barkat, sculptor Rasha and DU Mass Communication and Journalism Department teacher Robaet Ferdous were also present on the occasion, among others.

The monument was named as "Mukta Chinta Sthambha" as a symbol of free thinking to commemorate memories of writer Avijit Ray.

"The sculpture will stand as a witness to the memory of Avijit and people's freedom of expression," Professor Arefin said.

He said free thinkers like Avijt Roy were murdered by the people of same ideology who killed 30 lakh people during the Liberation War in 1971.

The vice-chancellor called for remaining united against the fundamentalism, militancy and extremism.