AL’s allies denounce extrajudicial killings

Leaders of the Awami League’s partners in the 14-Party Alliance have expressed their dissatisfaction with the recent spate of killings carried out through so-called ‘gunfights’ with law enforcers. They said extrajudicial killings are not acceptable under any circumstances.
So far, 17 people, including six suspected militants, have been shot dead in gunfights since law enforcers launched a nationwide crackdown after the June 5 murder of Mahamuda Aktar Mitu, wife of Superintendent of Police Babul Aktar. The victims include Golam Faizullah Fahim, who was suspected of the attack on Madaripur college teacher Ripon Chakraborty and in 10-day remand. He was apparently caught by locals while fleeing and then handed over to the police.
Workers’ Party of Bangladesh (WPB) president Rashed Khan Menon said they were always against ‘encounters’. “Our law enforcement agencies won’t be able to curb militancy by killing people in encounters,” he added.
“Killing suspects in shootouts isn't acceptable under any circumstances. They should be brought to justice,” said Menon, who is also the civil aviation and tourism minister.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) faction chief Sharif Nurul Ambia said he cannot accept extrajudicial killing by any means. “This trend of shootouts by law enforcement agencies should be stopped immediately to establish the rule of law in the country,” he added.
The JSD leader argued that killing someone in a gunfight would, on the one hand, make it difficult to establish the truth, and on the other, inspire the ongoing secret killings, which is the reason the police are working hard to curb militancy in the country.
Shirin Akhter, the general secretary of
another faction of JSD, also said that extrajudicial killings were not acceptable under any circumstances. Gano Azadi League general secretary SK Sikder termed the crossfire killings “illegal”. “I never support extrajudicial killings because these are a barrier in the way of establishing the rule of law in a country,” he said. He added that extrajudicial killings could not happen in a country with an elected government. Other alliance leaders were of the same opinion.
Only AL presidium member and 14-Party coordinator Mohammad Nasim refused to comment on the issue.
Some members of the civil society and chairman of the Bangladesh Human Rights Commission have also criticised the ongoing extrajudicial killings. They said “shootouts” are not the solution to curb militancy and terrorist activities in the country. Over 12,000 people, including 194 suspected militants, have been arrested over the last week in a countrywide anti-militant crackdown. The police launched the special drive on June 10 in the wake of a string of targeted killings and terrorist attacks on minorities and other progressive forces. The drive was announced after the murder of SP Babul Akter’s wife Mahamuda Khanam Mitu in Chittagong.

ALs allies denounce extrajudicial killings

Leaders of the Awami Leagues partners in the 14-Party Alliance have expressed their dissatisfaction with the recent spate of killings carried out through so-called gunfights with law enforcers. They said extrajudicial killings are not acceptable under any circumstances. So far, 17 people, including six suspected militants, have been shot dead in gunfights since law enforcers launched a nationwide crackdown after the June 5 murder of Mahamuda Aktar Mitu, wife of Superintendent of Police Babul Aktar. The victims include Golam Faizullah Fahim, who was suspected of the attack on Madaripur college teacher Ripon Chakraborty and in 10-day remand. He was apparently caught by locals while fleeing and then handed over to the police. Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) president Rashed Khan Menon said they were always against encounters. Our law enforcement agencies wont be able to curb militancy by killing people in encounters, he added. Killing suspects in shootouts isnt acceptable under any circumstances. They should be brought to justice, said Menon, who is also the civil aviation and tourism minister. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) faction chief Sharif Nurul Ambia said he cannot accept extrajudicial killing by any means. This trend of shootouts by law enforcement agencies should be stopped immediately to establish the rule of law in the country, he added. The JSD leader argued that killing someone in a gunfight would, on the one hand, make it difficult to establish the truth, and on the other, inspire the ongoing secret killings, which is the reason the police are working hard to curb militancy in the country. Shirin Akhter, the general secretary of another faction of JSD, also said that extrajudicial killings were not acceptable under any circumstances. Gano Azadi League general secretary SK Sikder termed the crossfire killings illegal. I never support extrajudicial killings because these are a barrier in the way of establishing the rule of law in a country, he said. He added that extrajudicial killings could not happen in a country with an elected government. Other alliance leaders were of the same opinion. Only AL presidium member and 14-Party coordinator Mohammad Nasim refused to comment on the issue. Some members of the civil society and chairman of the Bangladesh Human Rights Commission have also criticised the ongoing extrajudicial killings. They said shootouts are not the solution to curb militancy and terrorist activities in the country. Over 12,000 people, including 194 suspected militants, have been arrested over the last week in a countrywide anti-militant crackdown. The police launched the special drive on June 10 in the wake of a string of targeted killings and terrorist attacks on minorities and other progressive forces. The drive was announced after the murder of SP Babul Akters wife Mahamuda Khanam Mitu in Chittagong.