Bangladesh High Court responds to public interest litigations and asks the government to explain why 'crossfire killings' should not be illegal.

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The High Court (HC) today issued a rule upon the government to explain within four weeks why extra-judicial killings ‘in the name of crossfire or encounter’ should not be declared illegal.

The court also asked to explain why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who are liable for the incidents of extra-judicial killings in the custody and outside.

An HC bench issued the rule upon a writ petition filed as public interest litigation (PIL) by three human rights organisations-- Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Karmojibi Nari (KN).

Three human rights organisations jointly filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking an order declaring illegal the extra-judicial killings by the law enforcement agencies. Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Karmojibi Nari (KN) filed the petition recently as a public interest litigation.

They prayed to the court for directing the government to form an enquiry committee to probe all extra-judicial killings and place before the court a report on the killings.

The petition said at least 969 people were killed since 2004 in custody and in crossfire or encounter by law enforcement agencies.

The petitioners sought HC directives for the government to provide compensations to the family members of those killed in custody and in crossfire or encounter.

It was stated in the petition that law enforcement agencies resort to extra-judicial killings in the name of crossfire or encounter violating the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

It said such killings constitute blatant violation of fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 27, 31, 32 and 35(3) of the constitution and the United Nations (UN) universal declaration of human rights.

Petitioners' counsel barrister Saifur Rashid yesterday told The Daily Star that Articles 27, 31, 32 and 35(3) of the constitution have guaranteed protection and security of all citizens.

The HC bench of justices Syed Mahmud Hossain and Quamrul Islam Siddiqui, which was due to hear the petition yesterday afternoon, fixed 3:00pm today for the hearing following a government prayer.

Additional Attorney General MK Rahman yesterday prayed to the court for deferment of the hearing to make necessary preparations.