The government is callously making light of extrajudicial killings, says BNP

BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has criticised Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for his comments regarding extrajudicial killings in the government’s anti-drug campaign.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 3 June 2018, 10:44 AM
Updated : 3 June 2018, 10:56 AM

“Obaidul Quader says ‘a few mistakes occur in such large (anti-drug) operations,” Rizvi said at a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Dhaka’s Naya Paltan on Sunday.

“What a cruel joke! What dark humour! A mistake over a person’s life! Such comments by Obaidul Quader have a chilling effect on human rights and legitimise the illegal killings of murderers and criminals.”

“Some mistakes are possible during such an operation,” Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader had said on Saturday in response to questions regarding Teknaf municipal councillor Akramul Haque, who was killed in ‘crossfire’ amid nationwide anti-drug operations.

“The government is conducting murder operations on some drug dealers on the lower end of the drug chain and many other unknown people while the top godfathers of the drug chain remain power. Why aren’t they blocking the routes for drug trafficking? Who is supporting the entry of narcotics into the country? Can such things happen without the patronage of the state?”

“The entry points are controlled by MPs such as Badi, with the support of the administration. The people want to know how Badi and other influential members of the ruling party were able to escape the clutches of the detectives. The government is helping the godfathers to escape.”

Rizvi spoke of the audio recording on Akram’s death.

“The audio of Akram’s death brought tears to the eyes of his wife and daughters and has rattled the conscience of the Bangladeshi people and the world. And Akram is not alone. Nearly 130 people have been killed without trail in these drug raids.”

“Law enforcers have killed 250 without trail in the past month. They have a free license to kill. Most of the victims are young men.”

“The government is wholly responsible for these illegal killings. People are killed nationwide in falsely reported gunfights. They are conducting political murders in the name of anti-drug operations.”

The BNP secretary general also reiterated calls for the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from prison.