Awami League to serve notice on MP Enamur for crossfire comments

The Awami League has decided to serve notice on its MP Md Enamur Rahman for his recent comment claiming credit for the deaths of criminals in ‘crossfires’.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 30 July 2017, 01:05 PM
Updated : 30 July 2017, 03:28 PM

The ruling party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader disclosed the decision at a media briefing at the party president’s political office at Dhaka’s Dhanmondi on Sunday after a meeting.

“We have received complaints and criticisms for Savar MP Enamur’s interview published recently. We are taking the issue very seriously.”

The decision on serving notice on the MP was taken at the meeting of the party’s secretaries, said Quader, also the road transport minister.

Savar lawmaker Rahman in a newspaper interview has claimed that he had had several criminals killed in ‘crossfires’ by security forces.

His remarks came at a time when national and international human rights organisations are vocal against the extrajudicial killings by security forces in the name of ‘crossfire’ or ‘gunfight’ in Bangladesh.

In the interview on the security situation in Savar, Rahaman bragged about controlling criminals in his constituency, once a hotspot of crimes.

“I sent five into crossfires, made another list of 14, and now everyone is silent. After I made the list, several of them had come to me, begged for mercy and promised to become good citizens.”

Amid a barrage of criticism, Rahman retracted his statement.

Opposition parties have said the government has always brushed off many crossfire incidents despite protests from the human rights organisations, but now the Awami League MP’s remarks have ‘revealed the ugly truth’.

Sunday’s party meeting also discussed the arrest of Sramik League leader Tufan Sarkar over the rape and torture of a girl in Bogra, Obaidul Quader told reporters. Sramik League is the labour wing of the Awami League.

“As it is a matter of our affiliated organisation, we can’t take any direct decision on the matter. But we have decided to give directive to the top leaders of that organisation.”