JP's Firoz Rashid for extrajudicial killing

Jatiya Party lawmaker Kazi Firoz Rashid in parliament yesterday recommended extrajudicial killing as a means to tackle the growing incidents of rape across the country.

Citing a recent incident when a rapist of a nine-year-old girl was killed in a “gun fight” with members of Rapid Action Battalion in Ashulia, Kazi Firoz said, “People want to see such incidents [killings of rapists]. The Rab members concerned should be awarded.”

The senior lawmaker from the opposition bench made the remarks as he spoke on a point of order.

“We cannot accept the recurrence of rape incidents and rape victims' going to court. People want to see immediate action against the rapists.”

Referring to the incident of Zakia Sultana Rupa, who was killed after being raped in a bus in Tangail, Kazi Firoz said the lower court has handed down death sentences to the ones who raped her. But, the offenders will have the option to go to the higher court, then to the Appellate Division and finally to the president.

“We aren't sure whether their death sentences will remain upheld by the higher court. If we could ensure immediate and exemplary punishment to those culprits, we would've been able to avoid the recurrence of rape incidents in other places,” he argued.

The country cannot sit idle if women do not feel safe on their way to and from their workplaces and any other destinations, the parliament member said, adding that since the extrajudicial killings have proved to be successful in tackling the rise of militancy, the law minister should place a bill in the House, introducing summary trials for offenders involved in rape and other gruesome crimes.

AL MP TALUKDER ABDUL KHALEQ RESIGNS

Meanwhile, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday informed the House that ruling Awami League MP Talukder Abdul Khaleq has resigned from his constituency (Bagerhat 3) in a bid to contest the mayoral election of Khulna City Corporation.