Laws do exist, we must all use them

The main accused in the case of Rifat Sharif’s murder in Barguna, Sabbir Rahman Nayan, was shot dead in an “encounter” with the police. This is nothing new in Bangladesh. Odhikar, a Dhaka-based human rights body, reported at least 1,169 people lost their lives in extrajudicial killings between January 2009 and May 2016 in the country.

 On July 5, the High Court warned that law enforcement officials must be careful so that extrajudicial killings don’t occur again. While most of us are criticising this recent event, just a few months ago, many applauded the so-called “Hercules” for the extra-judicial killing of alleged rapists. What all this reflects is a nation that’s becoming increasingly lawless. We must not allow this to continue because it is not justice.   

Md. Zillur Rahaman, Gandaria, Dhaka.