Published: 12:05 AM, 27 October 2026
IGP faces backlash over 'crossfire' remarks
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir faced backlash from political parties and organizations after on Monday he said police will carry out 'crossfire' if the government permits.
Speaking at the inauguration of the "Community Islamic Bank System" in Old Dhaka on Monday, the IGP said, "If the government permits and it becomes necessary to maintain law and order and suppress crimes, we will not hesitate to resort to crossfire."
The remark of IGP has drawn widespread criticism.
Criticizing the IGP during a public outreach programme on Monday in Dhaka, National Citizen Party (NCP) Senior Joint Convener, MP Hasnat Abdullah, said if the government failed to take action against Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir over his 'crossfire' remarks, it would suggest that the government was moving towards legitimising extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.
The Amar Bangladesh Party also condemned the remarks. In a joint statement, party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Monju and Secretary General Asaduzzaman Fuad said government authorisation could not legitimise the extrajudicial killing of any citizen.
Islami Andolon Bangladesh Secretary General Gazi Ataur Rahman also expressed concern, saying the remarks recalled the conduct of police during the previous regime.
He said someone holding such a responsible position could not afford to make such casual statements.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) strongly condemned the remarks, saying they sent a dangerous message by presenting extrajudicial killings as an acceptable means of controlling crime instead of addressing weaknesses in law enforcing agencies.
The anti-corruption watchdog said the comments showed disregard for the Constitution and the law and contradicted the government's stated position against extrajudicial killings.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman questioned whether the IGP was using the prospect of 'crossfire' to deflect attention from police's failure to maintain law and order.
The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) expressed deep concern over the comments and condemned them.
The HRSS has demanded a clear and unequivocal explanation from the government concerning the IGP's statement.
At the same programme, IGP also said, said, "If they do not get money from drug dealers, journalists write that the police are ineffective. Such reports are published in various national media outlets." Strongly condemning such remarks of the IGP, the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in a statement issued on Monday warned of tougher programmes if the police chief fails to withdraw his comments and apologise within 24 hours.
Reacting to the remarks, DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel said such sweeping comments questioning journalists' professionalism and integrity were contrary to the principles of independent journalism.
Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) on Monday strongly condemned and protested against what it described as objectionable remarks made by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir about journalists, demanding that he withdraw his sweeping comments on their professional integrity and responsibility within 24 hours.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, Police Headquarters clarified that Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir did not mean extrajudicial killings when he used the term 'crossfire' while discussing law and order.
The statement said, "The IGP expressed the firm commitment of the police to take effective action against drug traffickers, goons, extortionists, and criminals who pose a threat to public safety. In illustrating the strict enforcement of the law, he referred to the term 'crossfire' in a literal sense. He did not use the word with the intention of denoting extrajudicial killings or imposing punishment outside the judicial framework."
Meanwhile, Police Headquarters also addressed the IGP's comments regarding journalists.
The statement noted that he did not intend to make a blanket observation about journalists, and that the remark occurred inadvertently.
