No Crossfire, We Want the Rule of Law: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh has said that any suggestion of using “crossfire” or other extrajudicial methods to control the law and order situation goes against the fundamental principles of the rule of law and justice.
In a statement issued on Monday (October 26), the party’s President, Shaykhul Hadith Maulana Ubaidullah Faruk, and Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi made the remarks. They said such comments from a senior law enforcement official were unacceptable. They stressed that law enforcement agencies must respect the law, the Constitution, and the existing judicial system while maintaining law and order.
They said that regardless of how powerful or influential a criminal might be, the person must be brought to justice and punished through a transparent and fair trial. The party leaders said the people no longer wanted to see a return to the oppressive political culture of the past, which was marked by extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the abuse of power outside the law.
They said there could be no place in an independent country for taking the law into one’s own hands or punishing anyone outside the judicial process. They added that any deterioration in law and order must be addressed through strict law enforcement, but all measures must remain within legal limits. Alongside preventing crime and ensuring public safety, the state must also protect the rights and lives of innocent people.
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh leaders called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to withdraw or clarify his remarks. “No crossfire, we want the rule of law. No extrajudicial killings, we want justice. Not revenge, we want an accountable and humane state,” they said.
They urged the government and law enforcement agencies to take effective measures to maintain law and order while respecting public expectations and people’s rights. They also stressed that extrajudicial methods must not be tolerated under any circumstances.
