Police may resort to ‘crossfire’ if govt allows: IGP

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir on Monday said police would not hesitate to resort to “crossfire” against criminals if the government permitted it and the situation warranted such action.
He made the remarks while inaugurating “Community Islamic”, the Shariah-based banking unit of Community Bank Bangladesh PLC, at an event in Chawkbazar, Old Dhaka.
Ali Hossain Fakir also serves as chairman of Community Bank Bangladesh in his capacity as IGP.
Speaking at the programme, he said 
some people labelled the police a “fascist force” when officers used force to maintain law and order. Conversely, when police adopted a non-violent approach to meet public expectations, they were accused of being “weak”, he said.
The police could not function effectively or maintain law and order amid such conflicting expectations from different quarters, he said, urging the public and others to provide the force with adequate support to perform its duties.
“If the police need to charge batons, they will do it. If the situation warrants a ‘crossfire’-like scenario, police, with government permission, will not hesitate to resort to such a measure,” he added.
He said police must be allowed to perform their duties in accordance with the law and the Constitution. The force had no business with people who threatened to return to the country from self-imposed exile, he said, adding that its role was to enforce the law and the Constitution.
HRSS condemns remarks, seeks government clarification
The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) expressed deep concern and condemned the IGP’s remarks in a statement issued by its Executive Director Ijazul Islam.
The statement said linking the possibility of extrajudicial killings to government approval in the name of maintaining law and order raised serious concerns about the rule of law, justice and human rights.
A person’s right to life and justice could not be curtailed simply because they were accused of a crime, the statement said. Preventing crime and ensuring public safety were state responsibilities, but these must be carried out through lawful procedures, impartial investigations and respect for the authority of the judiciary.