For the past week there appears to be an invisible killing-spree going throughout the country amid serious criticisms happening in the name of tackling drug peddlers. Just day before yesterday, the Home Minster vehemently defended the ongoing nationwide crackdown as 12 more alleged drug dealers were killed. However, our law enforcers have reportedly provided identical description of ‘gunfights’ killing at least 34 people since May 15.
Our questions, however, in this regard are – who are the dead ones? For how long this witch-hunting would continue in the name of combating illegal drug trade? The police cannot avoid the accountability to the process of justice. Such killings by disciplined police force have to show that the killing was in self defence and the persons killed were illegal drug traffickers. The people, especially the lawyers and judges have a right and obligation to ensure that nobody should feel free to take another person’s life without due process of law.
The drug traffickers have been tolerated for a long to do their business. It has not happened suddenly calling for killing people indiscriminately by shooting without the need of judicial process and denying the persons’ right to their life.
Our national image as a country where rule has any place is being tarnished badly. It is surprising that our police, RAB or otherwise, do not care for our national image.
If the lawyers were not party-activists of undemocratic politics they would have been the first to protest against the extra-judicial killings. Human rights bodies are expressing concern but not our lawyers. They should be ashamed for not being defenders of the rule of law and fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution.
We are painted as a nation where lawless killings can be done freely by law enforcers. Under political leadership, the police could not have been so callous about the lives of the people. The suspicion is if coming election has something to do with killings by defiance of law.
The figures of those killed have more to say. According to Police Headquarters, at least 3,200 people were arrested across the country in the last five days during the drive. The RAB arrested 699 people for their alleged involvement in the illegal business while its mobile courts jailed 2,236 and fined 485 others.
Killing is not the right way of tackling the drug menace anywhere. The people’s cooperation in ensuring punishments of true criminal through legal process is essential. The drug traders have mountains of money to save themselves from law.
Most importantly, the god-fathers of drug trade are knowingly safe being untouched by police. The government position is-there is no sufficient evidence against them. Let the government show what evidence is there against those who were killed. It is sad that the government feels no accountability.
Since it is all happening in the name of fighting contraband drugs, the ruling party MP from Teknaf has long been known as the godfather of Yaba trade and he has allegedly set up a powerful network that includes his five brothers.
Mysteriously enough, as the crackdown goes on, Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar area has been deliberately been kept excluded from the countrywide drive. We all know, the most potential route for Yaba to enter Bangladesh is through Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar- Myanmar border.
The lawyers and judges have to play in defence of persons’ Constitutional right to life.
