DMP chief orders officers to shoot anyone with bomb, arson threats

He says it is allowed under the law

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali has authorised officers to open fire on anyone throwing crude bombs at police and setting fire to vehicles.

The directive comes amid mixed reactions to a similar order issued five days ago by the chief of Chittagong Metropolitan Police.

On Sunday, three DMP officials, including a deputy commissioner from the crime branch, confirmed the order given in a radio message, requesting anonymity.

Commissioner Sazzat told bdnews24.com, “I instructed over wireless that anyone setting a bus on fire or using crude bombs to threaten lives should be shot. This is allowed under our law.”

As the verdict nears in the International Crimes Tribunal case against Sheikh Hasina in connection with the crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising, the Awami League, whose activities were banned, announced protests and a “Dhaka lockdown” from Nov 10 to 13.

Several arson attacks on buses and trains and crude bomb explosions have been reported in Dhaka and other parts of the country since Nov 10.

With the verdict in Hasina’s case scheduled for Monday, the party announced a two-day “complete shutdown” starting Sunday.

Crude bomb blasts and arson on buses were also reported in Dhaka and several other districts from Saturday night.

A deputy commissioner said, “The message from the sir [Sazzat] was -- if anyone tries to flee on a motorcycle after hurling a crude bomb at police, the assailant must be stopped, even by shooting if necessary.”

Explaining the directive from his own perspective, the deputy commissioner said: “Given the current situation, the safety of police officers deployed in the field is at risk. During previous episodes of political arson and violence, police were prime targets.

“In that context, [Sazzat] may have issued this order to boost morale among the force.”

A visit to the DMP headquarters on Sunday afternoon revealed the order had become a topic of discussion among officers. In the room of a senior official, several officers had gathered, examining sections 96 to 106 of the Penal Code, which outline the right to self-defence.

Section 96 of the Penal Code states: “Nothing is an offence which is done in the exercise of the right of private defence.”

Just last week in Chattogram, after several “targeted killings” left the city police rattled, Commissioner Hasib Aziz ordered armed criminals to be shot dead if necessary. The CMP commissioner issued that directive on Nov 11 through a radio message.

The following day, rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expressed concern in a statement over the CMP commissioner’s instructions.

The organisation said the Constitution guarantees every citizen’s right to life and access to legal protection.

Issuing orders to kill or open fire on a suspect without due legal process is “absolutely unacceptable”, ASK said.