Defending the deaths in alleged shootouts, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan categorically said law enforcement agencies are not killing anyone in the name of crossfire.
He said: “Lawmen only open fire in self-defence when drug traders shoot at them during anti-narcotic drives. To kill anyone is not their intention.”
The Home Minister made the remarks at an anti-narcotics rally held at the Tejgaon BG press office field in Dhaka on Saturday noon.
The response came after many human rights activists and members of civil society criticized the law enforcement agencies saying they kill people in so-called ‘crossfire.’
The minister said: “Under the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we have successfully curbed militancy in Bangladesh, while the whole world is still struggling with it. Like militancy, the Premier has announced zero tolerance against drugs. Our fight against drugs has started.”
The Home Minister said: “We have formulated new laws with tougher punishments for drug trafficking. Law enforcement agencies are taking stringent measures to implement the law.”
He also said: “Our prison capacity is 35,000 while there are 95,000 prisoners jammed in there. Most of them were arrested in drug-related cases. The final stop for drug addicts and dealers is jail now, due to the swift but strict implementation of the law.”
Saying that the drugs and arms trades are related, Asaduzzaman said drug dealers use illegal weapons when law enforcement tries to nab them. But our forces also have the right to self-defence during drives.
“However, we give a last chance to those who surrender and leave the drug trade. If not, they have to go to jail. And if anyone tries to bring out arms and weapons while facing lawmen, then there will be clear consequences and retaliation.”
“I have instructed the BGB to prevent drug ingress through borders by any means. I also instructed the Coast Guard to keep close watch on the coastal areas,” said the Home Minister, adding that despite barriers, drugs are still coming and in it is essential to raise social awareness against it.
