‘Crossfire’ and State Responsibility

A sudden controversy recently arose in the country surrounding ‘crossfire’ statement by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir is regrettable.

He indicated that the police would engage in ‘crossfire’ — extrajudicial killings — if granted permission by the government to maintain law and order. Such a statement, coming from the country’s highest-ranking police official, is entirely unacceptable.

This has brought the old specter of extrajudicial killings back to the fore. At the same event, he also leveled serious allegations against journalists. Various political parties, human rights organizations, and the journalistic community have protested these remarks.

Meanwhile, demands for the removal of the Inspector General of Police have also emerged. The situation now calls for responsible action from the government.

In the history of Bangladesh, the term ‘crossfire’ is associated with the deaths of countless individuals, the anguish of those who lost loved ones, and a long-standing culture of impunity.

In the past, there were numerous allegations of extrajudicial killings carried out in the name of maintaining law and order, raising serious questions about the role of state forces in these incidents. Those experiences remain vivid in people’s memories to this day.

A repetition of that dark chapter in a democratic Bangladesh is, by no means, desirable.
The primary responsibility of the state is to ensure the lives and safety of its citizens.

Combating crime is a constitutional and legal duty of the police.

However, there are specific, established procedures for identifying offenders, conducting investigations, and ensuring punishment through the judicial process. No one has the right to bypass these procedures. Even government endorsement cannot legitimize extrajudicial killings.

The Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to life and the right to the protection of the law. The police chief’s remarks failed to reflect due respect for this fundamental principle enshrined in the constitution.

The concerns expressed by Transparency International Bangladesh, Ain o Salish Kendra, and the Human Rights Support Society in response to the IGP’s remarks is highly significant.

Various political leaders, including Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed, ruling BNP Acting Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Cultural Affairs Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, have strongly reacted the IGP’s remarks, saying the government cannot authorize extrajudicial killings, and police officers are not obliged to obey unlawful instructions from the authorities.

For this reason, the BNP government certainly deserves a note of thanks