Extra-judicial killing of militants is crime against humanity, says BNP

The BNP has described the death of suspected militants in raids as 'extra-judicial killings' and termed it a 'crime against humanity.'

"As a lawyer, I think the killings without solving the mystery these are tantamount to crimes against humanity," BNP Vice-Chairman Khandaker Mahbub Hossain said at a discussion on Sunday.

The ruling Awami League might have to stand trial in the international court in the near future over the killings, warned the former president of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association.

Seven suspected militants were killed on Saturday, when police raided a house in Patartek area even as RAB raided a suspected militant hideout in Harinal area, killing two under the Gazipur City Corporation on Saturday.

One died in Ashulia and two in Tangail in anti-militancy drives by RAB the same day.

Questioning the motive behind such drives, the senior advocate said: “Were they (suspected militants) so powerful that our law enforcers could not catch them alive?”

“This is because the government is plotting a play. They are creating an illusion to show people that they are actually uprooting militancy.”

The discussion was arranged by the “All Community Forum” to demand the release of detained party leaders, including BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Alluding to different cases filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Khandaker warned the government of the dire consequences of such action.

“The consequences might not be good if Khaleda and BNP’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and other leaders of the opposition are sentenced. All hell will break loose in the country,” he said.