‘All killings in anti-drug drive to be investigated’

Secretariat Correspondent: Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said investigation will be conducted into all killings including Teknaf Municipality councillor Ekramul Haque occurred in the ongoing anti-drug drive across the country.

He said the government would take steps as per law if any killing of innocent people takes place while conducting drives against drug traders.

“An executive magistrate investigates where gunfire takes place,” he added.

In reply to a query, the Minister on Wednesday told this to the reporters at his office in the Secretariat, after his lengthy meeting with US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat.

He also said the law enforcement agencies did not kill anybody in the crossfire.

He said Bernicat wanted to know how many people are killed and how many people are in jail following the anti-drug drives.

“She appreciated the drives against illegal drugs but expressed concerned about loss of lives in the drives,” he said.

The Home Minister said they provided details to the US Ambassador who supported controlling the expansion of drugs in the country.

“Our government has never directed us to kill people. Our law enforcement agencies don’t work for killing someone,” said the minister.

He conveyed the US Ambassador that the law enforcement agencies did not kill anybody in the crossfire.

He said so far 13000 drug peddlers have been arrested during the drive and punished with various terms.

risingbd/Dhaka/May 30, 2018/Asad/A K Azad