Prime Minister will consider next decision on IGP after foreign trip, says information adviser Zahed

If a further government decision is needed on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir following the controversy over his 'crossfire' remarks, the Prime Minister will consider the matter after returning from an important foreign trip, Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman has said.

He made the remarks on Tuesday (27 October) at noon, answering journalists' questions at a weekly briefing on the progress of various government activities, held in the conference room of the Department of Information at the Secretariat. At the same briefing he also set out the government's position in answer to questions on extremist group activity, attacks on minorities, obstruction of a freedom fighter's burial and political violence.

Answering several questions on the IGP's 'crossfire' remarks, the information adviser said Police Headquarters had given a formal explanation after controversy arose over the statement.

He said it was not impossible to get an indication of extrajudicial killing from the IGP's original remarks, and many had interpreted the statement that way. But the later explanation said he had not meant extrajudicial killing.

Noting that Police Headquarters had also explained the IGP's comments about journalists, the information adviser said that statement had contained a kind of blanket allegation about journalists, and that too had been clarified.

Zahed Ur Rahman said if the remarks of a person in a responsible position reach people in the wrong way, they need to be explained. The IGP had given an explanation, and in his view the matter had become clear through that.

The information adviser also said the IGP had not stood by his earlier remarks. After misunderstanding arose over the statement, his position was clarified, and that too should be taken into consideration.

However, he did not give a direct decision on whether giving an explanation alone ends the responsibility or whether administrative action would be taken against the IGP. It was on that question that he said the Prime Minister would consider any next decision after the foreign trip, if such a decision was needed.

At the same press conference, the information adviser advised journalists to go to the Information Commission if government offices do not provide information. He gave the advice in response to a complaint that the relevant branch of the Home Ministry was not providing information on licensed arms not being returned and on lost arms.

He said journalists have the opportunity to seek information under the Right to Information Act, and the act should be used to obtain information that is not extremely sensitive for the state. There was no Information Commission in the country for a long time, a commission has now been formed, and after speaking to those in charge he had learned they want to work actively.

On arms, the information adviser said if any arm is illegal, taking action on it is part of the police's normal duty. Journalists should ask what steps the police are taking, but he said he had no updated information on the matter.

Zahed Ur Rahman said some might feel an effectively working Information Commission creates pressure on the government, but in his view ensuring the free flow of information and accountability is beneficial for the government itself. Calling on journalists to seek information from government offices, he said that if information is not given, they should go to the Information Commission for a remedy.