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DHAKA: The Justice and Democracy Party (JDP) has given Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir 24 hours to withdraw his remark suggesting that police would not hesitate to carry out crossfire killings if the government permitted it and apologise to the public.
JDP Convener Naim Ahmad issued the ultimatum at a protest rally in front of the National Museum on Monday afternoon, condemning what the party described as a threat of extrajudicial killings.
Naim said no police officer could make such an anti-human rights and reprehensible statement without an indication from the home minister. He accused the minister of encouraging further human rights violations by the police.
“We strongly protest the IGP’s statement. He must withdraw it and apologise to the people within the next 24 hours,” Naim said.
He recalled reports about a possible extrajudicial operation modelled on Operation Clean Heart about a month ago, saying the IGP’s recent remarks had raised concerns that public anxiety over deteriorating law and order might be used to build support for crossfire killings.
The reference to government approval also raised questions about whether the police were seeking permission to take such action, he added.
Naim said maintaining public safety and combating crime were state responsibilities, but threatening to kill people outside the judicial process was unacceptable. Allegations of crime must be investigated impartially and prosecuted through due legal procedures and the courts, he said.
“Government approval cannot legitimise extrajudicial killings,” he added.
Criticising the home minister, Naim said the IGP would not have dared to make such remarks had an independent police commission been established in line with the aspirations of the July uprising, the commitments of the July Charter and the outcome of the referendum.
He accused the government of undermining the reform process and paving the way for repression, while failing to take similar action against what he described as activists of the banned Awami League involved in violence.
Fahim Mashrur, convener of the Referendum Implementation Citizens’ Forum, said the police were funded by taxpayers but were now talking about seeking permission to carry out crossfire killings.
He described the remark as a violation of the law and the Constitution and urged the government to dismiss the IGP.
Mashrur also warned against a possible return of the crossfire culture, recalling that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was established during the BNP’s previous tenure in power.
JDP Member Secretary Advocate Abdul Alim said a state’s strength should be measured not by the number of guns it possesses but by how safely it protects its most vulnerable citizens.
He urged the government to establish the rule of law instead of intimidating people, adding that the police should act against criminals, protect innocent citizens and serve as a source of security for vulnerable people.
M Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, secretary general of Bangladesh NAP, said the IGP’s remarks had alarmed the nation and raised fears of a return to authoritarian rule.
He questioned whether the statement reflected a government decision or whether the police were attempting to pressure the government into authorising such action.
Bhuiyan also demanded an explanation for the failure to implement police reform recommendations made after the 2024 mass uprising. He warned that the public would not accept any attempt to revive crossfire killings associated with the previous authoritarian period.
JDP Chief Organiser Ahshan Ullah accused the IGP of attempting to turn Bangladesh into a police state and warned of a possible conspiracy to revive extrajudicial killings to suppress dissent.
He called for police reform through a new law replacing the Police Act of 1861, as well as the IGP’s resignation and a public apology.
The rally was moderated by JDP Joint Member Secretary Abdul Hamid. Among others, Manch 24 Convener Fahim Faruqi and National Student Platform spokesperson Salman Sharif addressed the gathering.