IGP’s “crossfire” remark is embarrassing for the government: Rizvi
BNP Acting Secretary General and the Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Mr. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that the remark of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Md. Ali Hossain Fakir is embarrassing for the government. The IGP had said that “crossfire” will be carried out if needed when the government gives permission. Mr. Rizvi said the BNP fought for a long time against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. He said it worries them that the head of police talks of crossfire while a government of that party is in power.
He spoke yesterday at noon at the opening of a free medical camp in front of the BNP central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka. The camp was held for the 48th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal. Mr. Rizvi said the head of the police force is part of the government, and asked how he could speak of crossfire. He said the matter would be different if the IGP’s remark was made unintentionally.
Mr. Rizvi said the country has enough laws to control crime, and enforcing them is the duty of law enforcement agencies. He said terror and crime can be controlled with existing laws. He also expressed worry over the rise in juvenile crime and some incidents of crime in several areas of Dhaka. He said many honest and skilled officers are in the police force and they must be put to use. He said crime can be controlled if the law is applied properly without any influence. He said neither disappearance nor crossfire can be an acceptable way to stop crime. He said responsible people in all institutions should speak and act responsibly. He warned that statements made to take cheap credit can harm the country.
Earlier, after paying respects at the graves of Shaheed President Mr. Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Ms. Khaleda Zia for the founding anniversary, he spoke to reporters. He said Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal will make a great contribution to carrying out the new politics of production, development, public welfare and social protection that BNP Chairman Mr. Tarique Rahman has started. He said Jubo Dal will keep working as a supporting force for Mr. Rahman in the country’s constructive work, rebuilding and the financial progress of people.
He said Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal was founded 48 years ago by Shaheed President Mr. Ziaur Rahman, the declarer of the country’s great independence and later the guarantor of multiparty democracy and civil liberty. He said that over a long journey the organization has become one of the largest youth organizations in the country. He said Jubo Dal, a symbol of struggle, courage, unity and bravery, faced repression on the streets many times under the fascist government. He said its members were kept in jail for months, and many were given life sentences only for political reasons. Even so, he said, they did not step back an inch from their democratic struggle and duty. BNP Joint Secretary General Advocate Mr. Abdus Salam Azad and central and local leaders were present.
In the afternoon of the same day, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Mr. Michael Miller paid a courtesy call on Mr. Rizvi at the BNP Chairman’s Gulshan office. The EU ambassador greeted the BNP Acting Secretary General. The upcoming local government election in Bangladesh got importance at the meeting. They also had friendly talks on political matters and on taking the ongoing friendly relationship forward. The ambassador hoped the ongoing development work would gain more pace. Solving the Rohingya problem, the local government election and LDC graduation were also discussed.
