| Submit your comments on this article | ||||
| Bangladesh | ||||
| Rights groups to move court for 'crossfire' deaths probe | ||||
| 2009-10-11 | ||||
Some human rights bodies propose to file an application in the High Court today seeking a direction to the government to submit comprehensive reports of all incidents of extra-judicial killing in the name of crossfire, encounter, gunfight and shootout till yesterday (Saturday).
At least 969 people were killed across the country since 2004 either in custody or in crossfires or encounters. A total of 111 suspected criminals, mostly extremists, were killed in the crossfire since the Awami League-led grand alliance government assumed power on January 6.
The court also asked the government to explain as to why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who were responsible for extra-judicial killings 'in the name of crossfire or encounter'.
Thirteen weeks have passed since the rule was issued but the government is yet to submit its explanation, sources said. Talking to this correspondent, Barrister Saifur Rashid, counsel for some human rights groups, said yesterday that though Articles 27, 31, 32 and 35(3) of the Constitution have guaranteed protection and security of all citizens, the law-enforcing agencies have been 'violating' these constitutional guarantees by resorting to extra-judicial killings "in the name of crossfire or encounter". He also said that 'crossfire', 'encounter' and 'shootout' were the other names for extra-judicial killings as the circumstances leading to these deaths follow the same pattern in each and every case arousing suspicion that cooked-up stories are disseminated to justify police actions. "Some innocent people, including two polytechnic students and one freedom fighter, have already been killed by the law-enforcers in the name of crossfire, he alleged. "The law enforcement agencies make strikingly identical statements to justify crossfire or encounter deaths, which raise doubts about the credibility of their versions." Talking to this correspondent, chairman of the Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Dr Hamida Hossain said that the constitution had guaranteed protection and security of all citizens. Yet the law-enforcing agencies have been 'violating' these constitutional guaranties by manipulating the crossfire. "One offence cannot justify another and extortion, killing, looting, murder and attempt to murder did not came-down after such killings," she said adding that the government should bring the criminals to justice for reducing criminal activities. "Extra-judicial killings carried out without a judicial mandate not only violates right to life, liberty and security of persons guaranteed under international laws, but also equally, rights guaranteed under the Constitution of Bangladesh and other laws." Dr Hamida also said that some international rights groups, including Amnesty International, US-based Human Rights Watch and Transparency International, have from time to time expressed concern over extra-judicial killings in the country.
| ||||
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 I propose a meeting to iron out the problem. Say, some farmer's field at 3 am... |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-10-11 15:38 |
| #1 Amazing. Lawfare against the very group making it possible for law and order to prevail. If the legal system worked, there wouldn't be any crossfires. |
| Posted by: gromky 2009-10-11 06:43 |