Govt has ‘zero tolerance’ for crossfires; IGP’s remark ‘improper’: Salahuddin

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has rejected Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir’s remarks that police would resort to “crossfire” if the government authorised it, saying the government has zero tolerance for extrajudicial killings.

“The government does not want crossfire; rather, it has zero tolerance for it,” Salahuddin told reporters on Tuesday evening.

Describing the IGP’s remarks as inadvertent, the home minister said, “He is a simple and straightforward person. While speaking about strict enforcement of the law, he made the comment inadvertently. It was not right, and he should not have said it.”

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Salahuddin said the government would not allow extrajudicial killings or deaths in police custody, adding that the policymakers were firmly committed to the rule of law and improving law and order.

He said there had been no deaths from crossfire or in custody so far. However, the government would take all necessary measures to curb crime and ensure proper enforcement of the law.

On Monday, the IGP said at an event in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar that police would carry out crossfire if necessary, provided the government gave permission. He also said police faced criticism as “fascist” when they used force and were labelled weak when they remained inactive, arguing that law enforcers needed a suitable environment to perform their duties.

The remarks triggered strong reactions from several political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and the Amar Bangladesh Party, as well as human rights organisations.

Later on Monday, the police headquarters issued a clarification, saying the IGP had not used the term “crossfire” to mean extrajudicial killing or punishment outside the judicial process. According to the clarification, he had used the term “only metaphorically” to refer to strict law enforcement against violent criminals, who take on an attacking posture when faced with law enforcers.