Army's first probe report contrasts with FIR -The Asian Age

The initial investigation from the Armed Forces Division in respect of the incident of Major Sina killing contrasts with the charges made in the cases filed by police, Transparency Internationan Bangladesh (TIB) has said.

In order to be sanguine whether police fired in self defense or not, the probe body will let the people know what really happened through reliable investigation and the security of Major Sinha's working fellows and other possible witnesses will have to be ensured, TIB said.

In an observation Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has stated that the killing of former Major Sinha Rashed Khan in Cox's Bazar is the outcome of prevailing crossfire culture.

According to TIB, there is no alternative to ensuring accountability of killing without judicial judgment by law enforcement agencies.TIB opines that there is no chance to consider Sinha's killing an isolated occurrence rather the tragic incident may turn the trend of extrajudicial killing into an as usual example.

The information from mass media says that 287 people were killed in anti-drug trafficking operations in over hundred gunfights in Cox's Bazar led by Police, BGB and RAB from May 4, 2018 to July 30, 2020 in the area.But the Bangladesh Constitution asserts that every citizenis entitled to get lawful protection. Even any person involved in drug trafficking has the right to go through judicial processes.

Among the extrajudicial killings from anti-drug trafficking operations some victims were not at all involved in drug trafficking. Even the numbers of allegations of taking bribes or giving threat of crossfire were not insignificant as published in the media, TIB said.

No law enforcement agency can get immunity for committing extrajudicial killings. The curse of drug trafficking has not stopped, the stalwarts are getting privilege institutionally and they are going ahead withtheir illegal trade, TIB said.According to TIB, law enforcement agencies get the scope of extrajudicial killings as there is no window of reliable investigation and lawful steps regarding such killings.

The TIB statement has said that the killing of Major Sinha in police firing will have to be investigated in the light of everything. As the constitution does not allow any extrajudicial killing and does not permit impunity for committing such crimes.

TIB expressed hope that the government will pay attention to confidential investigation, retreat from extrajudicial killing and the law enforcement agencies will uphold their dignity and public confidence in future.