TIB and Odhikar Express Concern Over IGP’s Statement on Crossfire

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and human rights organization Odhikar have condemned and protested the statement made by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Ali Hossain Fakir, where he said, “Police will not hesitate to engage in crossfire if the government approves it.” According to them, such a statement risks establishing extrajudicial killings as an acceptable method of crime suppression and raises serious questions about the accountability of law enforcement agencies.

In separate statements released on Monday (October 26), the two organizations demanded that the IGP withdraw his statement, ensure accountability regarding extrajudicial killings, and conduct impartial investigations into such incidents.

TIB’s statement noted that bringing forward crossfire as a tool for crime suppression, instead of addressing failures in maintaining law and order and institutional weaknesses, sends a dangerous message.