Editorial
Extrajudicial killing
Why can't it be stopped?
We cannot but express our serious concern at the report published by a human rights organisation Odhikar in Bangladesh that every three days, one person falls victim to extrajudicial killings. There have been ninety such deaths between January and September of the current year. And the aggregate figure killed since early January 2009 when the Awami League coalition government assumed office, that exceeds 200, conveys a horrendous picture. That is what causes us concern, and calls for a government probe into the magnitude of the number.
According to the description of the law enforcing agencies, all those killed are hardened criminals with several murder charges against them or members of some outlawed political group that had indulged in killing innocent villagers. Be that as it may, such manner of extermination, either by crossfire or in encounter with the law enforcing agencies, or indeed in custody of the police, is an euphemism for 'justice' being meted outside the process of the established legal system. It admits of no excuse and the perpetrators must be brought under the purview of the law.
Even a single such death is one too many because, apart from the fact that it is grossly illegal and unconstitutional, and such killings replicate the modus operandi of the so-called criminals that the law enforcing agencies are trying reduce. We are simply baffled by the fact that the number has increased in spite of the fact that the Awami League in its election manifesto had pledged to put an end to such killings.
The matter assumes a very ominous character when one considers the fact that there are two rulings by the highest court of the country that has put a caveat on such manner of killings. These stem from the rulings of the High Court of 17th November 2009 asking the government suo moto to explain the extrajudicial deaths, and the other was the order of the High Court of 14 December 2009, which it was constrained to pass because 11 illegal deaths had taken place since the 17th November 2009 order. It put a ban on all such killings till the previous case was disposed of. However, there has been no progress in the case since the reconstitution of the bench very soon after the order was passed.
We do not for a moment deny the right of the law enforcing agencies to self defence and appropriate use of force when under attack or threat of attack. However, except for a few instances, none of the death seems to have been result of exchange of fire.
It is difficult to accept the argument of the home minister and the RAB DG in this matter. And we call upon the government to take steps to ensure an end to extrajudicial deaths. It must also enquire into every such incident and hold to account those that are found guilty of breach of law. We would also hope that the pending cases in the matter would be disposed of, sooner rather than later.
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