Dhaka, Jun 2 (Just News): Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said it is only normal that one or two mistakes may happen in drives like ongoing crackdown on drug suspects.
He made the comment when his attention was drawn to the recent killing of of ruling Awami League's youth front Jubo League leader and ward councillor of Teknaf Ekramul Haque in ‘crossfire’.
Quader, also general secretary of the AL, said the matter would be investigated and if Ekramul proves to be innocent, those responsible for the killing would be brought to book.
Read More: Two big blunders in the anti-drug drive
"One or two mistakes may be committed in such drives," he expressed his views.
The minister's comment contrasted criticism that came from the human rights groups and the opposition political parties about the extra-judicial killing in the name of anti-drug drive.
Quader said, “Ekram was an activist of our party. The home minister has already given his statement regarding his death. I think I should not talk on the issue further.”
"I can’t say if he was innocent without proper investigation. But the government won't make any concession to whoever is a culprit,” the AL elader added.
Asked if Ekram was victim of local AL’s factional fued, he said the government is yet to find any such evidence.
Quader was addrressing at the inaugural programme of the Dolanchapa bus for women at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Saturday.
Chairman of Rangs group Abdur Rouf Chowdhury, and secretary general of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Samity Khandaker Enayetullah were present there.
Claiming that the ongoing anti-narcotics drive is appreciated by all, Quader said only a ‘quarter’ is trying to malign the the drive out of political parochiasm.
On Thursday, family members of ward councillor Ekramul Haque demanded a fair probe into the 'shady circumstances' that led to his death and sought the prime minister’s intervention into the matter.
In a press conference, Ekramul's wife Ayesha Begum refuted the official press release issued by the RAB about his death.
Citing evidence in the form of recorded voice calls, she said that the final outgoing call made to Ekramul's number was by his daughter at 11:32pm on 26 May. Ayesha said that investigating the voice records would prove that killing Ekramul was premeditated, not part of any 'gunfight'.
The death draws huge flak in social media as an audio track recorded during his death spread over the media.
(Justnews/ys/2350hr)
