Extra-judicial Killings: Law-enforcers' story questioned

Terming law enforcers' accounts on extrajudicial killings as story, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman yesterday questioned the credibility of their version.

“After crossfire incidents, we repeatedly hear same type of stories which create confusion among the people. It is not good for the society,” the rights body chief told a meet the press programme.

Crime Reporters' Association of Bangladesh organised the event titled “Role of crime reporters to protect human rights” at Dhaka Reporters Unity, with its president Parvez Khan in the chair.

“Rab members are adequately trained. So why do people die from their gunshots and why the bullets don't hit their legs?” he posed the questions.

Law enforces often claim that they open fire in self-defence. Though it is legal, there is a specific definition of it. All the claims about self-defence are not legal, he mentioned. “Only the judiciary can decide which is legal or not. Let them take a decision on this.”

Lawmen even try to legalise an extrajudicial killing citing one's previous criminal record, which is not legal either, added Mizanur.

Regarding persons going missing, the NHRC chief said right to life is the topmost basic right of the people. In a democratic country it is not acceptable that a person will go missing.

The state has to take the responsibility regardless of whether it finds them out or not. There is nothing to play hide and seek in this regard, he maintained.

Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Benazir Ahmed pointed to lack of manpower in the judiciary for a huge backlog of cases. He suggested enhancing the capacity of the judiciary by 10 times to minimise the case backlog.

Additional Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Col Majibur Rahman, Director of its legal and media wing Commander M Sohail and Chief Executive of Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation Alena Khan addressed the programme, among others.