Government does not support extrajudicial killings or disappearances: Information Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman at Secretariat

Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman has said no democratic government can ever support extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearances. He said the current democratic government, elected by the people's vote, does not support choosing such an illegal path.

He made the remarks on Tuesday (October 27) at noon, answering journalists' questions at the weekly press briefing held in the conference room of the Directorate of Information at the Secretariat. Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmad and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Dr Md Alam Mostafa were present at the briefing.

The information adviser said a democratic state ensures punishment or legal action only through the judicial process, not through any illegal killing. He said: 'If a government kills people extrajudicially, the state is no longer a state, it becomes a thug. In the past, those who were involved in such work turned the state into a thug.'

He added that the current government has no ill intention of holding on to power by holding elections in the darkness of night. Therefore the government will not do anything that damages the state's image.

Reminding employees of the republic, he said they are not obliged to obey any illegal order, even if it is an order on paper.

In response to a journalist's question about the police chief's (IGP) statement, the information adviser said the IGP has cleared the misunderstanding by giving an explanation of his statement through police headquarters. The government's next decision on this issue will be considered by the prime minister himself after he returns from his foreign tour.

Referring to several recent incidents, the adviser said offenders have been arrested as soon as they tried to take the law into their own hands or incite others. The government is constantly giving the strict message that no one is above the law.

In response to a question about the Media Reform Commission's recommendations, he said the BNP government has its own policy and thinking on how it wants to see the media and on new ownership and a regulatory body for the media, which it will determine by discussing with stakeholders.

On the work of the Constitution Reform and Consensus Commission, the information adviser said work is ongoing on various amendments beyond the consensus commission's primary discussions. He noted that the government is committed to establishing the democratic stream and good governance in the country.

Stressing making the Information Commission more active, he said obtaining information from any government office is a citizen's right. To ensure this transparency, the restructured Information Commission is being made more active and dynamic and the new commission will play an effective role in this regard.

In response to another question about Sheikh Hasina, the adviser said it is not logical to call someone who sat in power by force without the people's mandate a 'former prime minister'. If she returns to the country, she will have to face justice according to the law. He said the government will ensure justice for her while maintaining the full legal process.