DHAKA | October 27, 2026 : Bangladesh’s police chief has sparked renewed debate over law enforcement powers and human rights after declaring that police would be prepared to use “crossfire” if the government permits it and authorities consider it necessary to maintain law and order.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir made the remarks on Monday at an event in Dhaka’s Chawkbazar, organised to launch Islamic banking services by Community Bank Bangladesh, where he also serves as chairman.
🗣️ “If the government permits, we will stage crossfire where it is necessary,” Fakir was quoted as saying.
The statement has drawn attention because of the controversial history associated with the term “crossfire” in Bangladesh.
⚖️ What Did the Police Chief Say?
Fakir urged the public to allow police officers to perform their duties within the law. He argued that the force faces criticism both when it uses physical force to control situations and when it refrains from acting.
“When the police use batons, they are called fascist police, while they remain silent, they are called weak police,” he said, according to the report.
He maintained that police needed an appropriate working environment to carry out their responsibilities.
The IGP also criticised what he described as a section of journalists who allegedly portray police as ineffective when they do not receive illicit payments connected to drug trafficking or criminal activities. These were allegations made by the police chief; the report did not independently establish their validity.
🚨 Why Is the Term “Crossfire” So Controversial?
In Bangladesh, the term “crossfire” has long been associated with allegations of extrajudicial killings and unlawful executions involving law enforcement agencies.
Authorities have historically described some such deaths as occurring during exchanges of gunfire—for example, when suspects allegedly opened fire on police or attempted to escape custody, or when armed accomplices supposedly intervened.
However, rights groups and political opponents have repeatedly challenged these accounts, alleging that some incidents were staged killings rather than genuine armed confrontations.
The distinction is crucial: a claim that a suspect died in a gunfight does not, by itself, establish that the use of lethal force was lawful.
📜 A Controversial History Spanning Decades
The report traces allegations of extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh back to 1975, when ultra-left Maoist leader Siraj Sikdar died in police custody under circumstances that the article compares with later cases described as “crossfire.”
The expression became prominent in the national security debate in March 2004, when the government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia established the elite anti-crime unit Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), drawing personnel from the armed forces and police.
According to the report, allegations surrounding such killings continued across successive administrations, including during the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina, which was toppled amid the July Uprising in August 2024.
Police and RAB operations conducted under the “crossfire” label have faced sustained criticism from human rights organisations over the years.
🛡️ The Bigger Question: Security Without Abandoning the Law
Bangladesh’s authorities face the challenge of tackling violent crime, drug trafficking and threats to public safety. Police officers also need the legal authority and institutional support to carry out legitimate duties.
But the possibility of state-sanctioned extrajudicial violence raises fundamental questions about accountability, due process and the protection of human life.
Maintaining law and order and upholding human rights are not opposing goals. Effective policing requires lawful procedures, credible investigations, transparent oversight and accountability when officers misuse their powers.
Any use of lethal force must be assessed against applicable law and the facts of each incident—not justified simply by the label attached to it.
📌 The central issue now is whether Bangladesh’s government and law enforcement institutions will clearly define the limits of police authority and ensure that every operation remains subject to the law.
