Home adviser retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday said that anyone involved in extrajudicial killing would be brought under the law.
He made the warning at a press briefing after a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at the secretariat in response to a question from a journalist.
Asked about a report by a rights organisation that security forces were involved in about 40 extrajudicial killings over the past 14 months, he said,聽 鈥榃hoever is involved 鈥� whether from the security forces or any other agency 鈥� will be brought under the law and dealt with through legal means.鈥�
In reply to the question if the army would retain magistracy powers during the election, he said, 鈥楾he army already has magistracy powers. Why would those stop during the election? We have not withdrawn those until now.鈥�
Jahangir also said that if any police officer was found working in favour of any candidate in the upcoming elections would be immediately subjected to legal action as per the rules.
An 鈥楨lectoral Inquiry Committee鈥� has been formed for this year鈥檚 JS elections. If anyone is found negligent in carrying out their duties during the polls will also be brought to justice immediately, he further said.
He alleged that incitements and provocative statements were being spread on social media, both locally and from abroad, in an attempt to destabilise the country.
Asked about the police officers who served during previous elections and are still in key positions, such as officers-in-charge at different police stations under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, he said the government would try to replace most of them but admitted to limitations.
鈥榃e have decided to remove those who were involved in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 elections first,鈥� he said.
鈥楢t first, we will look at those who served in two elections. If we still have manpower left, then we will remove those involved in the other election. But we cannot appoint new OCs overnight,鈥� he said.
鈥楾hose who were involved in only one election and against whom there are no complaints 鈥� we will have to use them during the election,鈥� he added.
To another query, Jahangir said that efforts were under way to bring back former police officers who fled abroad during the previous government鈥檚 regime.
He also mentioned that the core committee had discussed recent incidents of unrest caused by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists in different parts of the country following internal disputes over nominations.
Noting that some small incidents occurred at a few places due to nomination-related issues within a party, he claimed that the situation was much more peaceful than what was initially feared.
About arms recovery ahead of the election, the adviser said that at least 11 firearms had been recovered during an operation in Raozan.
Noting that Raozan and Fatikchhari are still troubled areas, he said, 鈥楥riminals there often flee into the hills. It鈥檚 not like the plains.鈥�
Asked about the formation of the proposed Police Commission, Jahangir said, 鈥楾here was no discussion on it in today鈥檚 meeting, but it will be formed soon. Once it is established, we can talk about its functions.鈥�
Regarding the recent fire at the airport cargo complex and reports of missing weapons from a secure vault, he said that a high-level investigation committee headed by the senior home secretary was probing the incident.
鈥楲etters have been sent to four or five countries, and experts from a couple of them have already arrived,鈥� he said.
鈥榃hether weapons were actually stolen will be clear after the investigation. If theft occurred, those responsible will face legal action,鈥� he added.
