AL doesn’t support extra-judicial killing, says Obaidul Quader

Dhaka, July 05 – Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said the government doesn’t support extra-judicial killing.
Referring to a High Court the AL general secretary came up with the statement at a press conference at the party president Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office in the city.
“The government or home ministry didn’t describe the killing incident of Nayan Bond as extra-judicial one. Home ministry has described it as encounter. Encounter and crossfire is not the same thing. We also don’t support extrajudicial killing,” said Quader.
Earlier on Thursday, the HC in its observation said that the law enforcers must be more careful to ensure all legal facilities during arrest so that extrajudicial killings do not take place. “Everyone must be given the legal protection provided by the law,” it said.
“If the law enforcers come under attacks during a raid and if they opened fire in self-defence there might be taken place some incidents. But we don’t like extrajudicial murders,” the court said.
Referring to the verdict over attacks on Hasina’s train, Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister said BNP doesn’t accept any verdict that goes against them. Blaming the government over any issue is the old habit of BNP, he added.
After a long wait for over 25 years, a Pabna court on Wednesday sentenced 9 BNP leaders and activists to death and 25 others to life imprisonment in a case filed on charge of carrying out an attack on a train carrying the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina in Pabna in 1994.
Replying to a query over BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s long period treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital, Quader said the government didn’t maintain any compromise with BNP over the issue. Khaleda Zia should be given the time whatever needed for her treatment at the hospital, he added.
He said BSMMU medical board would decide whether BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia should stay at the hospital or not. “The medical board and jail authority will decide how many days Khaleda Zia should stay at hospital,” he added.
Asked if Khaleda sought parole, Quader said there are some conditions to seek parole though she doesn’t have any valid reason to seek parole. He, however, said it was up to the government to decide whether she would get parole or not if she wanted it. – Staff Reporter