Editorial
Extra-judicial killings
PM's words heartening but need to be followed by concrete action
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appears to have clear views about the extra-judicial killings which have of late been a subject of intense debate in the country. She has told a group of human rights ambassadors from some European nations that her government is strictly opposed to such action and that if anyone is found engaging in extra-judicial killing, he or she will face the law. Coming against a background of questionable 'crossfire' killings, about which we made our views known only a few days ago, we think the prime minister's comments couldn't have come a day later. We therefore take hope from her expression of sentiment on the issue. Her realization that the unnatural deaths which have lately occurred have not been going down well either in Bangladesh or abroad (which again is quite natural) leads us into thinking that we can now look forward to a reversal of the situation.
It is certainly unfortunate that such deaths, which began in the period of the BNP-Jamaat alliance government, should have continued under the present dispensation. That is because the ruling Awami League had promised before last year's elections that if it went to power it would put an end to extra-judicial killings. That has not happened and in the last nine months more than seventy individuals have died in 'crossfires.' Making matters worse only a few days ago was the assertion by a minister that 'crossfire' killings were a way of reducing crime. It was embarrassing, but we are now reassured by the way the prime minister seems to be looking at the issue. We might add here that Sheikh Hasina's views, in order to be taken at face value, must now be put into implementation. Expressions of concern over important issues are not enough. They must be followed by concrete action. Which means that from here on, the government must ensure that certain measures are taken where putting a stop to extra-judicial killings is concerned.
In the first place, there must be concrete and adequate safeguards against such killings and under no circumstances must individuals detained by the police or RAB lose their lives in questionable manner. In the second (and this follows from what has just been said), such safeguards will call for constant oversight on the part of the government if transgressions are to be avoided. Finally, a mechanism must be in place for the government to undertake a periodic review of the activities of the security forces.
All of this is do-able and indeed must be done if the stigma of 'crossfire' killings is to be removed from our law-enforcing agencies. We expect Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government to prove themselves equal to the task. Let them bear in mind that it is not morally and politically right that a democratically elected government preside over situations which militate against decency and basic human rights.
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