'Law enforcers don’t kill willingly in anti-narcotic drives'

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today in the parliament said law enforcement agencies don't kill anyone willingly in anti-narcotics drives.

"You all know that a good number of people were killed (during the ongoing anti-narcotics drive). And all of them were killed in gunfights (with law enforcement agencies) but our security forces don't go for killing anyone willingly," the home boss said participating in the discussion on the proposed budget.

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Anti-drug Drive: So-called gunfights kill two more

He also stated that illegal arms and money transaction are available when illegal businesses take place anywhere.

"We don't want to kill anyone. When our security forces launch raid in those illegal places, they (drug peddlers) opened fire to save their illegal businesses. These incidents (killing) take place at that time," he said.

Pointing to the ongoing drive against illegal drugs, the minister said those who had surrendered were sent to jail through mobile courts. Besides, drug peddlers were also sent to jail through regular court during the drive.

The home minister however noted that drug peddlers who challenged the drive faced gunfight.

Placing the statistics of total capacity of all jails in the country, Kamal said only 35,000 prisoners can stay in the jails. But 80,000 inmates are now staying in jails across the country. And more than 40 percent (around 32,000) of them are involved in drug related cases.

Turning to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's pledge to show zero tolerance against illegal drug, Kamal said his ministry will keep the PM's pledge at any cost to save the country, to save the country's youths and their intelligence.

"Otherwise," the minister said, "We will not be able to materialise our dream to turn the country into a developed one by 2041."

He also vowed that the government will do everything necessary to resist illegal drugs and to ensure peace and security of people.

With the today's latest incidents, the number of dead in the ongoing nationwide anti-narcotics drives rises up to at least 159.

Jessore police today claimed to have recovered two bullet-hit bodies of drug peddlers in Monirampur upazila of the district.