Extrajudicial killings can�t be tolerated: UK minister

Extrajudicial killings cannot be tolerated in a democratic country like Bangladesh, International Development Minister of the UK Desmond Swayne said yesterday, stressing that all incidents regarding the extrajudicial killings should be investigated and the perpetrators should be brought to justice.
“I’m not in a position to make any judgement on the basis of a three-day visit. All I can say it is essential that those crimes are investigated and the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he told a press conference at the British high commission amenities centre in the capital while replying to a question on the extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh is a democracy and it is essential that democratic values be preserved and maintained. And that you can’t tolerate extra judicial killings,” said the minister.
He also said that it is for the government and police to ensure that those crimes are investigated and pursued.

To another query, the British minister described freedom of press, freedom of speech and space for civil society ‘very important issues’.
Replying to another query regarding concern about freedom speech, he mentioned Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will replace Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) from January 1, 2016, and said, “That’s part of the new SDGs. We want peaceful society with strong civil society and strong institutions, which of course include the press, to be able to hold the government to account.”
But, he added, “It is not for me to lecture you and tell you how to achieve that. This is your country and your democracy and your politicians and you sort it.”
Swayne also said, “As I said, it’s not for me as a foreign politician to come and tell you how to run your country. That is a solution Bangladeshis have to find themselves.”
“If a foreign politician came to me in London and said you must do this, I should be quite rude. Equally, I am not going to come and expose myself for that by telling you how to run your government,” he said.
The UK minister was full of praise for Bangladesh for achieving startling success with regard to MDGs, saying, “It’s my ambition that Bangladesh, having done so well on MDGs, should equally be successful in achieving the SDGs.”
Responding to a query regarding the arrest of a British national in connection with the killing of a blogger in Bangladesh, Swayne said, “Its a fact that there are wicked people in the UK as well. It is right that police should pursue the investigation wherever the evidence leads and if it is a UK citizen who is responsible for these crimes, then he should be held responsible.”
When asked to comment on a report by Al Jazeera that the British national was actually arrested well before the incident, he said, “My understanding is that the individual in question has been arrested as the mastermind... That does not preclude him from having been taken into custody irrespective of what time it was committed.”
“That’s a huge speculation on my part,” he admitted.
About the readymade garments sector, the UK minister said significant progress has been made, but more needs to be done.
About the increase of prices for readymade garment (RMG) products to ensure standards, he said, “It’s rare that anyone volunteers to pay a higher price. But certainly people are prepared to pay higher prices for quality and I think that somewhere Bangladesh has a great deal of potential in terms of more training and greater productivity and the ability to produce for the higher end of the market.”

Extrajudicial killings can�t be tolerated: UK minister

Extrajudicial killings cannot be tolerated in a democratic country like Bangladesh, International Development Minister of the UK Desmond Swayne said yesterday, stressing that all incidents regarding the extrajudicial killings should be investigated and the perpetrators should be brought to justice. Im not in a position to make any judgement on the basis of a three-day visit. All I can say it is essential that those crimes are investigated and the perpetrators are brought to justice, he told a press conference at the British high commission amenities centre in the capital while replying to a question on the extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a democracy and it is essential that democratic values be preserved and maintained. And that you cant tolerate extra judicial killings, said the minister. He also said that it is for the government and police to ensure that those crimes are investigated and pursued. To another query, the British minister described freedom of press, freedom of speech and space for civil society very important issues. Replying to another query regarding concern about freedom speech, he mentioned Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will replace Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) from January 1, 2016, and said, Thats part of the new SDGs. We want peaceful society with strong civil society and strong institutions, which of course include the press, to be able to hold the government to account. But, he added, It is not for me to lecture you and tell you how to achieve that. This is your country and your democracy and your politicians and you sort it. Swayne also said, As I said, its not for me as a foreign politician to come and tell you how to run your country. That is a solution Bangladeshis have to find themselves. If a foreign politician came to me in London and said you must do this, I should be quite rude. Equally, I am not going to come and expose myself for that by telling you how to run your government, he said. The UK minister was full of praise for Bangladesh for achieving startling success with regard to MDGs, saying, Its my ambition that Bangladesh, having done so well on MDGs, should equally be successful in achieving the SDGs. Responding to a query regarding the arrest of a British national in connection with the killing of a blogger in Bangladesh, Swayne said, Its a fact that there are wicked people in the UK as well. It is right that police should pursue the investigation wherever the evidence leads and if it is a UK citizen who is responsible for these crimes, then he should be held responsible. When asked to comment on a report by Al Jazeera that the British national was actually arrested well before the incident, he said, My understanding is that the individual in question has been arrested as the mastermind... That does not preclude him from having been taken into custody irrespective of what time it was committed. Thats a huge speculation on my part, he admitted. About the readymade garments sector, the UK minister said significant progress has been made, but more needs to be done. About the increase of prices for readymade garment (RMG) products to ensure standards, he said, Its rare that anyone volunteers to pay a higher price. But certainly people are prepared to pay higher prices for quality and I think that somewhere Bangladesh has a great deal of potential in terms of more training and greater productivity and the ability to produce for the higher end of the market.