[🇧🇩] Bangladesh Police and Rapid Action Battalion

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Police Headquarters clarifies IGP’s ‘crossfire’ remarks

Police Headquarters has clarified that Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir did not mean extrajudicial killings when he used the term “crossfire” while discussing law and order. The explanation came in a statement on Monday evening amid criticism of the police chief’s re

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Police Headquarters clarifies IGP’s ‘crossfire’ remarks




Police Headquarters has clarified that Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir did not mean extrajudicial killings when he used the term “crossfire” while discussing law and order.

The explanation came in a statement on Monday evening amid criticism of the police chief’s remarks, made at the opening of the Community Islamic Bank System in Dhaka’s Chawkbazar earlier in the day.

“Our responsibility is to apply the law wherever and whenever necessary. If crossfire is needed and the government allows it, we will do that,” the IGP said.

Political parties and organisations criticised the statement and demanded its withdrawal.

In its response, police headquarters said the IGP had been expressing his commitment to taking effective action against drug traders, terrorists, extortionists and criminals threatening public safety.

“He used the word ‘crossfire’ in its literal sense to convey firmness in law enforcement. He did not use it to mean extrajudicial killings or punishment outside the judicial process,” the statement said.

Citing attacks on police, the statement said officers had faced 176 attacks in the first 10 months of this year while maintaining law and order, arresting criminals, preventing illegal activities and performing official duties. Four officers were killed and 370 seriously injured.

Police said officers sometimes faced direct resistance and attacks from criminals, organised assailants and lawbreakers.

It cited the Penal Code 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 and Police Act 1861 as laws recognising police officers’ right to self-defence.

At the bank event, the IGP also expressed frustration with journalists’ criticism of police.

“If we use batons, you call us fascist police. If we remain silent, you call us weak police. You have to give us an environment to work. You have to empower us,” he said.

Some journalists’ leaders also criticised those remarks.

Police Headquarters said the IGP had not intended to make sweeping comments about journalists and that his words had been inadvertent.

The statement said Bangladesh Police remained committed to protecting lives and property and upholding the rule of law professionally and impartially, while respecting human rights.​

 

[Saif]

Police Headquarters clarifies IGP’s ‘crossfire’ remarks

Police Headquarters has clarified that Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir did not mean extrajudicial killings when he used the term “crossfire” while discussing law and order. The explanation came in a statement on Monday evening amid criticism of the police chief’s re

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Police Headquarters clarifies IGP’s ‘crossfire’ remarks

Police Headquarters has clarified that Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir did not mean extrajudicial killings when he used the term “crossfire” while discussing law and order.

The explanation came in a statement on Monday evening amid criticism of the police chief’s remarks, made at the opening of the Community Islamic Bank System in Dhaka’s Chawkbazar earlier in the day.

“Our responsibility is to apply the law wherever and whenever necessary. If crossfire is needed and the government allows it, we will do that,” the IGP said.

Political parties and organisations criticised the statement and demanded its withdrawal.

In its response, police headquarters said the IGP had been expressing his commitment to taking effective action against drug traders, terrorists, extortionists and criminals threatening public safety.

“He used the word ‘crossfire’ in its literal sense to convey firmness in law enforcement. He did not use it to mean extrajudicial killings or punishment outside the judicial process,” the statement said.

Citing attacks on police, the statement said officers had faced 176 attacks in the first 10 months of this year while maintaining law and order, arresting criminals, preventing illegal activities and performing official duties. Four officers were killed and 370 seriously injured.

Police said officers sometimes faced direct resistance and attacks from criminals, organised assailants and lawbreakers.

It cited the Penal Code 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 and Police Act 1861 as laws recognising police officers’ right to self-defence.

At the bank event, the IGP also expressed frustration with journalists’ criticism of police.

“If we use batons, you call us fascist police. If we remain silent, you call us weak police. You have to give us an environment to work. You have to empower us,” he said.

Some journalists’ leaders also criticised those remarks.

Police Headquarters said the IGP had not intended to make sweeping comments about journalists and that his words had been inadvertent.

The statement said Bangladesh Police remained committed to protecting lives and property and upholding the rule of law professionally and impartially, while respecting human rights.​

 

[Saif]

Police service association defends IGP’s remarks on use of force

The Bangladesh Police Service Association has defended Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir’s remarks that police would not hesitate to carry out “crossfire” operations if the government authorised them. The association described the police chief’s comments as a ti

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Police service association defends IGP’s remarks on use of force

The Bangladesh Police Service Association has defended Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir’s remarks that police would not hesitate to carry out “crossfire” operations if the government authorised them.

The association described the police chief’s comments as a timely call for enforcing the law firmly while remaining within legal boundaries.

“The main significance of his remarks is to ensure appropriate action according to the circumstances within the limits of the law, and to strengthen police officers’ professional confidence and ability to perform their duties,” the organisation said in a statement.

Fakir made the remarks on Monday at an event in Dhaka’s Chawkbazar.

He said police would act in accordance with the law and constitution wherever necessary, adding that they would carry out crossfire operations if required and permitted by the government.

He also criticised what he described as contradictory public expectations of police, saying officers were labelled authoritarian when they used force and weak when they remained restrained.

The association said hesitation in exercising lawful powers could encourage criminals and undermine public safety.

It added that firm, impartial and professional policing within the law was essential to maintaining public trust.

The statement also noted challenges arising from changes in the law and order situation, mob violence and the period following Aug 5, 2024.

Asked why the association’s statement defended the IGP without directly using the term “crossfire”, its General Secretary and Dhaka District Police chief Shamima Parveen said the statement covered the relevant issues.

“We are working to make police people-friendly. There is no reason to consider them an adversary,” she said.​

 

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Zero tolerance for 'crossfire', IGP’s remarks were inappropriate: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has directly rejected Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir’s remarks on “crossfire”, saying the government does not want such incidents and has a zero-tolerance policy towards them. “The government does not want crossfire; rather, it has zero...

en.prothomalo.com

Zero tolerance for 'crossfire', IGP’s remarks were inappropriate: Home Minister

Special Correspondent

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed File Photo

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has directly rejected Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir’s remarks on “crossfire”, saying the government does not want such incidents and has a zero-tolerance policy towards them.

“The government does not want crossfire; rather, it has zero tolerance for crossfire,” the home minister said. Describing the IGP’s remarks as inadvertent, he added, “That was not right. He should not have said that.”

At an event in Chawkbazar in Old Dhaka on Monday, IGP Md Ali Hossain Fakir said the police would resort to “crossfire” if necessary, provided the government gave permission.

He said that when the police used force, one side called them fascists, while when they remained inactive, they were branded weak.

The police must be given an appropriate environment to carry out their duties and maintain law and order, he added.

Asked about the remarks on Tuesday evening, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told Prothom Alo, “He (the IGP) is a straightforward person. While speaking about the strict enforcement of the law, he made the remark inadvertently. That was not right. He should not have said that.”

The home minister firmly reiterated that the government did not want crossfire and maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards it. He said the government would not allow extrajudicial killings and would take an extremely firm stance on the issue. The government would not tolerate extrajudicial killings or custodial deaths, he added.

Salahuddin Ahmed said the rule of law was the government’s principal objective, while improving law and order was its top priority. No deaths in crossfire or in custody had occurred so far, he said. However, the government would take all necessary measures to curb crime and ensure the proper enforcement of the law.

Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, BNP Acting Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi commented on the issue at a programme marking the 48th founding anniversary of Jubo Dal, the party’s youth wing. The event, held in front of the BNP’s central office, was organised to inaugurate a free medical service.

Rizvi described the IGP’s remarks on crossfire as embarrassing for the government.

He said the comments had raised concerns because the BNP had long fought against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, making it troubling to hear the police chief speak of crossfire while a BNP-led government was in power.

Immediately after the IGP’s remarks on Monday that the police would resort to crossfire if necessary with government permission, several political parties—including Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party (NCP), Islami Andolan Bangladesh and the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party—as well as various human rights organisations, expressed strong reactions and outrage.

Amid criticism of the IGP’s remarks, the Police Headquarters issued a clarification on Monday evening. It said the IGP had not used the term “crossfire” to mean extrajudicial killings or punishment outside the judicial process. Rather, the statement said, he had used the term to convey a tough approach to law enforcement against criminals.​