Police foil Ganajagaran Mancha rally to protest ‘extrajudicial killings’ in anti-drug crackdown

Police have foiled a rally the Ganajagaran Mancha organised to protest against ‘extrajudicial killings’ during the ongoing crackdown on narcotics.

The activists of the platform, led by its Spokesperson Imran H Sarker, gathered at Shahbagh in Dhaka on Sunday.

They tried to take out a march, but police obstructed them saying that Mancha had no prior permission to hold the protest rally.

Sarkar then announced they will hold the demonstration at 4pm on Jun 6 at the same venue after meeting all the formalities.

On obstructing the event, Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Zone Azimul Haque said, "They did not take permission before. That’s why the protest rally was not allowed.”

In the last two weeks, more than 100 people have died in the operations. Although the killings were portayed as 'deaths in gun battles' by the law-enforcing agencies, human rights activists say these were extra-judicial killings.

Imran said, “Over the last few days, hundreds of people have been killed without specific allegations and investigations. People are being killed without trial.”

“We support the campaign against drugs. However, no matter how big the culprits are, we should not kill any person without trial.”

“So, we call upon the government to stop extrajudicial killings.”