The BNP fought against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings over the past 17 years and will not backtrack on that position after forming the government, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday, adding that the prime minister will take the final decision about the inspector general of police over his crossfire remarks.
“If a state or government kills someone extrajudicially, it ceases to function as a state and behaves like a thug,” Zahed said while speaking at a press briefing on the progress of various government activities at the Secretariat.
No democratic government can support extrajudicial killings, he said, stressing that the state must arrest criminals and hand them over to the judicial system for trial.
“Anyone can commit murder. A state becomes a state when it exercises the authority to deliver justice,” he added.
A death sentence can be imposed through judicial proceedings, but extrajudicial killing can never be an act of the state, the adviser said, adding that the state can arrest an accused person and hand them over to the judiciary, exercising the executive authority and laws can be amended, if necessary, but there can be no scope for extrajudicial killings.
He said the government has no intention of remaining in power after its five-year term through night-time voting or dummy elections. “It will, therefore, avoid any action that can damage its credibility, as incidents such as extrajudicial killings will undermine public confidence in the government.”
Asked about IGP Md Ali Hossain Fakir’s remarks that crossfire operations could be carried out if the government gives permission, Zahed said he believed the police chief retreated from his earlier position in subsequent remarks. “He also stepped back from serious allegations he made about journalists in general,” he said, adding that he thought the issue should now be put to rest.
Asked whether the IGP should be allowed to remain in office even after clarifying his remarks, he said the matter is for journalists to assess.
The adviser said he felt the situation would have been problematic had the police chief continued to stand by his earlier statement.
He also stressed that government officials are not obliged to carry out illegal orders and public servants must perform their duties in accordance with the law.
Zahed also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will take the final decision about the IGP after returning from the Japan visit.
Responding to a question about the arrest of a woman entrepreneur in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, for regretting voting for the BNP on Facebook live, he said he did not consider the position taken by local BNP activists who protested against her remarks to be justified.
Police took the woman into custody following the protests and later sent her to court under Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Zahed said people have the right to express such views. “Many people in Bangladesh, including some who make offensive remarks about the Prime Minister, are expressing their opinions without facing similar action,” he said, adding that such remarks can certainly be made.
He, however, said the matter is now within the jurisdiction of the judiciary, expressing hope that investigators will not treat the woman’s remarks as a criminal offence.
Asked about the reported vandalism and looting of the homes of three Hindu families in Pirganj, Rangpur, the adviser said he heard that police were deployed and action was taken in this regard.
He said there was a tendency among some extremist groups in Bangladesh to act aggressively. “Such tendencies increased during the interim government’s tenure, and appropriate action was not taken against such incidents in many cases,” he added.
Zahed also assured that the current government will take action against such crimes. “You cannot expect to remain beyond the reach of justice under this government. I assure you of that,” he said.
Members of the Hindu community also want to live safely in a liberal democratic country, he said, adding that people have expectations from political parties entrusted with governing the country, and the BNP will have to fulfil those expectations.
