Police have the right to kill within the law, but the government does not want that: Information Adviser

Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman has reminded that the police have the right to use lethal force according to the law if the situation arises. However, he said the present government does not want the police to use excessive force like the previous government in suppressing protests.

The Information Adviser said these words in reply to a question on the garment workers’ movement at a briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday (November 3).

A journalist asked that the government is talking about the involvement of the Awami League behind the ongoing workers’ movement demanding an increase in the minimum wage. Statements have also come that most of the protesters are like teenage gangs. Then why is the government unable to control them?

In reply Zahed Ur Rahman said a new culture has been created in controlling unrest.

He said, “I said one day earlier that the police of Bangladesh will never again be like Sheikh Hasina’s police, we expect this... I am saying this as a citizen, I am not saying this as a person in the government.”

He also mentioned allegations of inconsistency in some incidents of the police’s use of force. He said, “Even in the meantime you may have seen on social media that incidents like disproportionate use of force have occurred somewhere. I am saying this while being in the government.”

Regarding the legal power of the police the adviser said the police have the legal right to use force. Within the right of self-defence the police have the right to kill someone if that kind of situation is created, within the legal right.

He further said, “But the thing I am saying repeatedly is within the legal process and proportionate use of force. So we have wanted that the way these were tried to be suppressed earlier, this government does not want it that way.”

Regarding controlling the workers’ movement the adviser said the protesters are citizens of this country. He said the concerned forces have information on intelligence information and who are behind the movement. However, the government wants to control the situation in such a way that the loss and suffering of the people are less.

Zahed Ur Rahman expressed the hope that the workers’ protests will end in a very short time. He said genuine workers had also taken to the movement at the beginning with their legitimate demands. A commission has now been formed on this issue. He also commented that it will be difficult for others to create the same situation in the name of movement if the workers are not in the field.