Respect people's right to life
Stop the ongoing extrajudicial killings in the name of so-called gunfight, Human Rights Forum Bangladesh demanded of the government, expressing its deep concern in a press release yesterday.
“People are alarmed with a deep sense of insecurity, particularly following the death of Teknaf ward councillor Akramul Haque,” the forum said.
Akramul, a local leader of the ruling party's youth front Jubo League, was killed in what the Rapid Action Battalion claimed a “gunfight” between the elite force and drug peddlers in Cox's Bazar on May 27.
Claims of the victim's family and published audio clips of his telephone conversation have alarmed all, it said adding that an estimated 153 alleged drug peddlers have so far been killed in “gunfight” since the May 15 anti-narcotics crackdown that Rab and police launched jointly.
The comment that one or two mistakes may occur during the ongoing anti-narcotics drives, made by a government leadership is unacceptable and inconsiderate and such comment is making the situation even more complex, the forum said.
Article 32 of the Bangladesh constitution guarantees people's right to life and the universal declaration of human rights and other similar international conventions put emphasis on right to life and access to justice, it said, adding that an accused can be guilty only by means of a judicial process and may be punished as per provisions of the laws in effect.
The forum also demanded for an appropriate and impartial probe into all the killings in “gunfight” and making the findings public through mass media, bringing those to book found guilty and ensuring safety of the victims' family members.
They said that extrajudicial killings in this manner would only encourage a culture of impunity and called upon the government to remain respectful to the fundamental principles of human rights and constitutional rights of the people.
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