Home Minister: IGP’s ‘Crossfire’ Statement Was Inappropriate

From the report

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has disagreed with the statement made by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Md. Ali Hossain Fakir, regarding ‘crossfire’. He stated that the government does not want crossfire; rather, its stance on extrajudicial killings is ‘zero tolerance’. The Home Minister mentioned that the IGP made such a remark inadvertently while discussing the strict enforcement of law, adding, “This was not right, it should not have happened.”

Responding to the matter on Tuesday evening (October 27), the Home Minister said that the IGP is a straightforward person. He made the statement inadvertently while discussing the strict enforcement of law. However, the government will not allow extrajudicial killings or tolerate deaths in police custody.

Earlier, on Monday (October 26), IGP Md. Ali Hossain Fakir had stated at an event in Chawkbazar, Old Dhaka, that ‘crossfire’ would be used if necessary, with government permission. Explaining his remarks, he said that if the police use force, one group calls them ‘fascist’, and if they remain inactive, they are labeled weak. He also commented that the police must be provided with a suitable environment to perform their duties in maintaining law and order.