Govt won’t bow down to any pressure: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the government would not bow down to any external pressure over the ongoing anti-narcotics drive.

“We will not bow down to any external pressure. The United Nations and our foreign friends may observe the drive if they think so as they have a right to do so,” he said.

The minister came up with the remark while replying to a query from reporters after a programme at Bangabandhu International Convention Center in Dhaka.    

Quader, also general secretary of ruling Awami League, said the anti-drug drive is going on and will continue until the drug issues are eliminated from the country completely.

Over the murder of Teknaf ward councillor Akramul Haque, the AL leader said if Akramul is innocent, those who labelled him as drug peddler will be brought to justice.

Akramul Haque, also local Awami League leader, was killed in what Rapid Action Battalion claimed was a “gunfight” between the elite force and drug peddlers in Cox's Bazar on May 27.

However, his wife alleged that her husband was murdered in cold blood. She also gave journalists four unverified audio clips of chilling conversations in support of her claim.

Giving example of Naryaganj seven-murder case, Quader further said no top officials of Rapid Action Battalion involved with the incident was spared.

About yaba godfathers, including lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi, the minister said he would also not be spared if proof against him is found.

Replying to another question that ten eminent citizens called for an end to extrajudicial killings, he said every citizen, including eminent persons, have the right to criticize any move of the government.    

Noticing with concern that many people are falling victims to extrajudicial killing every day, ten eminent citizens yesterday called for an end to extrajudicial killings and urged the government to open a judicial investigation into all incidents of “shootouts”.

A total of 131 alleged drug peddlers were killed in “gunfights” during the ongoing anti-drug drive that began May 4.