No licence for crossfire

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) and Odhikar have condemned Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir’s remarks that police could resort to ‘crossfire’ killings if the government permitted them, warning that such a move would threaten the right to life, undermine the rule of law and encourage extrajudicial executions.

In separate statements issued on Monday, the organisations raised concerns over the implications of the police chief’s comments for human rights and accountability, calling for their withdrawal and clarification of the government’s position on extrajudicial killings.

TIB demanded that the IGP withdraw his remarks, issue an unconditional public apology and be held accountable. It also called for his removal from office until accountability was ensured.

TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman questioned whether the police chief was seeking to use crossfire as a cover for failures in maintaining law and order, and whether making such killings conditional on government approval amounted to an admission that crime could not be tackled lawfully.

He said police should identify offenders through professional investigations and bring accused persons to trial on the basis of admissible evidence.

Presenting crossfire as an alternative, he added, reflected professional failure rather than a solution to institutional weaknesses.

Iftekharuzzaman also highlighted the contradiction between the IGP’s commitment to performing his duties under the law and the Constitution and his willingness to carry out crossfire killings with government approval.

No government could legitimise extrajudicial killing, he said, noting that Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution guaranteed protection under the law and the rights to life and personal liberty.

Citing previous cases, he recalled the convictions and sentencing of police personnel in the Sinha murder case, allegations of extortion under threats of crossfire, torture and killing mentioned in the judgment report, and the audio recording released by the family of Teknaf councillor Ekramul Haque, who was killed in an alleged gunfight.

He also referred to the sentencing of former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officers in the Narayanganj seven-murder case as a judicially established example of the criminal abuse of power by law enforcement personnel.

TIB also criticised allegations that journalists attacked the police in exchange for money, saying any specific criminal allegations should be investigated on the basis of evidence.

Sweeping accusations, it warned, could undermine independent journalism and accountability.

The need to provide police with a proper working environment and adequate capacity could not be an excuse for avoiding legitimate criticism.

The organisation questioned the apparent inconsistency between the IGP’s remarks and the Law Minister’s statement on 14 September that the government would not resort to crossfire to suppress terrorism and that existing laws were sufficient.

It called on the government to seek a formal explanation from the IGP, ensure the withdrawal of his remarks and an unconditional apology, and take appropriate administrative action.

TIB added that police use of force must be lawful, necessary and proportionate.

Under international standards, intentional lethal force is permissible only when strictly unavoidable to protect life, not as a means of extrajudicial punishment.

HRSS urged the government to clarify whether the IGP’s remarks reflected official policy or his personal views.

It stressed that no one could be killed merely for being accused of a crime and called for accountability to prevent unlawful killings.

Odhikar warned that the comments could effectively give law enforcement personnel a green light to carry out extrajudicial killings.

It recalled widespread extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-and-a-half-year rule, affecting opposition politicians, activists and ordinary citizens.

Odhikar also recalled US sanctions on RAB over allegations of extrajudicial killings.

It said some law enforcement officials accused of human rights violations under the previous government had subsequently faced trial at the International Crimes Tribunal, while others had fled abroad.

Speaking at a programme in Chawkbazar, Dhaka, marking the launch of Community Bank’s Islamic banking services, Ali Hossain said: “Our duty is to apply whatever is needed, wherever and whenever, in accordance with the law and the constitution. If crossfire is needed, and if the government allows it, we will do that.”

Expressing frustration over criticism of the police, he said: “If police use batons, they say it is a fascist police; if they stay silent, they say it is a weak police. I must be given an environment to work.”

He urged people not to take the law into their own hands, saying freedom did not mean people could do whatever they wanted.

He also raised concerns about drug trafficking and alleged involvement by members of the banned Awami League and some police personnel, saying 27 police members had been suspended over the past two months.