Law enforcement in anti-drug drives on own accord
The government has said the anti-narcotics crackdown being conducted across the country for the last 11 days in which 63 people have been killed till date, is based on a list prepared by five government agencies. The agencies, though, say they are running these drives on their own accord.
The police headquarters, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and several district police say the drives are based on the list of drug peddlers and patronisers drafted by them. Every night, a number of suspects are being killed in these reported gunfights. The police or home ministry could not specify any time span regarding as per when this operation will end.
The law enforcement claimed, the 63 people, killed in 11 days till Thursday, are drug dealers. Human rights activists are questioning the 'gunfights'.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, "I'm repeatedly saying, our law enforcements never open fire against them unless they are challenged."
How long will the operation run?
Home ministry officials said the strict drives are being conducted to create fear among the drug dealers. They will be conducted until the narcotics business decreases. The decision is to run drives against more than 300 drug peddlers so far. The drives will not end any time soon, only the mode will be changed.
Most of the law enforcement officials say, in the current judicial system there's no other effective method to eliminate drugs. They drew examples of the Philippines, Thailand and Mexico. In these countries, several thousands of suspects were killed by government forces in name of anti-narcotics drives. They say, the people also support this type of anti-narcotics drive that has been launched in the country.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, the drives will run for as long as the situation doesn't turn normal. The drives will be extended to remote corners of the country. No one's plea over the issue of narcotics will be taken into consideration. The names are chosen with utmost care and scrutiny.