NCP Demands Removal of IGP Over 'Crossfire' Remarks

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has strongly condemned and expressed anger over remarks by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir about introducing 'crossfire', or extrajudicial killings. The party has demanded that the IGP be removed from his post immediately over the remarks.

The demand was made in a press release signed by NCP office secretary Sadia Farzana Dinar on Monday night (26 October).

The IGP recently commented that, with the government's permission, police would use crossfire if necessary to maintain law and order. In response, the NCP said such remarks about introducing crossfire subject to government permission are contrary to the constitution, the rule of law and human rights. No extrajudicial killing can be legitimised by government permission or approval.

The release said such remarks from the top level of the police are a dangerous attempt to re-legitimise crimes such as human rights violations and extrajudicial killings.

The NCP said the ruling BNP, in point 14 of its 31-point state repair outline, had pledged to stop enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Yet such remarks by an IGP appointed by the current government amount to duplicity against the party's own pledge. The party also commented that it is an instance of appointing an unfit person to an important state post.

The release said the terrible culture of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and state repression using the state machinery during more than 15 years of fascist rule was what the bloody student-people's mass uprising of 2024 sought to end. The history of extrajudicial killings of hundreds of leaders and activists of the then opposition parties and abuse of power by law enforcement agencies is still clear before the people of the country.

The party said making such provocative and unlawful remarks from the top of the police, without learning from the past authoritarian era, is extreme audacity. Threatening crossfire to hide failures in maintaining law and order is a sign of institutional bankruptcy. Such remarks may encourage field-level police members to use unlawful force and create a new path for human rights violations.

The NCP said the police administration is not bound to carry out any unlawful order of the government. It also noted that Bangladesh's Penal Code and Police Act contain clear provisions on this matter.

The release demanded that the police force be freed from all unlawful practices to establish the rule of law and protect human rights in the state. The NCP also demanded necessary reforms to turn the police into a people-friendly and accountable institution and the immediate formation of a 'Police Commission' along the path described in the July Charter.