These are encounters, not extra-judicial killings: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said drug peddlers are being killed in “encounters” with law enforcers and these are not cases of “extra-judicial killings”.

“When law enforcers are conducting raids, drug peddlers shoot at them resulting in the encounters,” Quader, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said.

He was talking to journalists after inspecting drives being conducted by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) at Manik Mia Avenue around 12:30pm.

Asked whether any action will be taken against ruling Awami League lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi, an accused in many cases including drug-related ones, Quader said, “Action will be taken against those who are involved in the narcotics trade, regardless of how powerful they are.”

Meanwhile, in response to BNP’s criticism over the crackdown on narcotics, Quader said “BNP is being bothered by the fact that people of the country are supporting the government on this.”

While talking to journalists at his Thakurgaon home yesterday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said people, including civil society members, and political quarters have been panicked by the government's “so-called gunfights” during the ongoing anti-drug drives.

At least 50 people have been killed in “gunfights” in the 10 days till today during the ongoing countrywide anti- narcotic drives.

The Rapid Action Battalion began an anti-narcotics drive on May 4 while the police launched a nationwide 10-day special crackdown on drug dealers on the first day of Ramadan on May 18.