BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed demanded on Wednesday the government put on trial the perpetrators of each of the extrajudicial killings through forming a judicial probe commission, reports UNB.
"The anti-narcotic drive is a conspiratorial and ill-conceived one. Stop immediately the drive being carried out to kill people, and form a judicial probe commission headed by a retired Chief Justice," he said.
The BNP leader made the comments while speaking at a discussion organised by the pro-BNP faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) at the National Press Club in the city.
The discussion was held to protest against torture of journalists and place the demand for withdrawal of the 'false' cases against senior journalists Shawkat Mahmud and Mahmdudur Rahman.
He further said, "The perpetrators of each of the extrajudicial killing must be punished through trial as per the report of the judicial probe commission."
Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, came down hard on Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for his remark that the government is going to track down those BNP leaders involved in drug trade.
"Doesn't it indicate that the drug traders who have so far been killed belong to Awami League?
He said Quader's comment hinted that the government may try to suppress its political opponents further in the name of the drive.
The BNP leader said the government has already made a list of BNP leaders and activists involving them with drug trade while police are indulging in extortion in the name of anti-narcotic drive.
Moudud, a former law minister, said some members of law enforcement agencies have link with drug peddlers. "The drive is being conducted to hide such crimes of police."
The BNP leader questioned who has given the government the right to give law enforcers licence to kill people without any trial.
He said the government is unlawfully killing people as there is no rule of law and elected government in the country.
Observing that no one of the drug kingpins was arrested or killed in the anti-narcotic drive, Moudud criticised the government for allowing ruling party MP Adur Rahman Bodi to go aboard amid the crackdown on drug peddlers.
"Bodi is known to people as a top drug peddler. So, the anti-narcotic drive has lost its acceptance when you've (govt) given him a chance to go abroad," the BNP leader added.
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