Using ‘Crossfire’ as a Shield for Law and Order Failure Sends Dangerous Message: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) strongly condemned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and voiced deep concern over his remark. The IGP said police would carry out crossfire if the government gave permission to protect law and order. TIB said the remark sends a dangerous message. It treats extrajudicial killing as an acceptable tool to control crime instead of fixing failures and weak institutions.

TIB called the remark a serious disrespect to the constitution and the rule of law. It demanded that the IGP withdraw the remark at once. It also demanded accountability for a statement that goes against the government’s declared stand on extrajudicial killing. TIB said this in a statement yesterday.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman asked whether the police chief wants to use the hated crossfire as a shield for his failure. He also asked whether adding a condition of government permission is an attempt to make extrajudicial killing legal. He said this itself admits a failure to control crime by lawful means. The duty of police is to run a professional investigation, find the criminal and bring the accused to trial on acceptable evidence.

He said crossfire cannot replace this duty. It cannot solve institutional weakness and is only a sign of professional bankruptcy. The IGP spoke of working under the law and the constitution. In the same remark, he spoke of doing crossfire with government permission. These two positions clash. No government’s permission can make extrajudicial killing lawful.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said Articles 31 and 32 of the constitution protect the right to the protection of law and the rights to life and personal liberty. An executive decision cannot cancel these rights. No matter how serious the charge is, police have no authority to kill a person by skipping the trial process. He also recalled past experience.

He pointed to the punishment of police members in the Sinha murder case. He also pointed to the report on that verdict. It mentioned claims of money extortion, torture and killing under the threat of crossfire. These show how terrible this method is. The claimed gunfight death of Teknaf councillor Mr. Ekramul Haque also raised wide questions. His family released an audio and made a killing allegation.

In the Narayanganj seven murder case, former RAB officers received punishment. This is a court proven example of criminal use of power by a law enforcement force. After thousands of such experiences, people hoped for professional cleaning of the police and reform of the state. In this background, the police chief has again raised the idea of crossfire. Dr. Zaman said the IGP must answer what the police have learned from past crimes.

Dr. Zaman said the police chief’s reckless and thoughtless remark may look like a hidden licence for illegal use of force on the ground. The person who must run the force within the law has raised crossfire as an option. So questions about his sense of duty and fitness to lead are unavoidable. He asked how the public can trust that their life and legal safety will be secure under his lead.

Earlier, the Law Minister said the government will not go the crossfire way to control terror. He said existing laws are enough to control terror. TIB asked why the police chief still raises crossfire with government permission. It said the government must explain this gap. It must also say how it will hold the IGP accountable for the declared stand.

TIB said the police must use force lawfully, only when needed, and in proportion. Under international standards, intentional lethal use of firearms is acceptable only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life. There is no room to present this limited allowance as approval for extrajudicial killing.

TIB also spoke on the claim that journalists criticise police when they do not get money. It said that if there is a specific charge of crime against any journalist, the law must act on proof. Blanket charges weaken the role of free media in watching and demanding accountability. They also risk discouraging independent journalism. The need to ensure the work environment and capacity of police cannot be a reason to avoid fair criticism.

TIB called on the government to take a formal explanation of the IGP’s remark. It also asked the IGP to apologise openly without conditions, withdraw the remark and face administrative accountability.