Police Headquarters has sought to defend Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir’s controversial reference to “crossfire”, insisting that he was not advocating extrajudicial killings but seeking to convey the police force’s determination to act firmly against criminals.
The clarification, however, does not specify what the IGP meant by using the term in its “literal sense”.
In a statement issued on Monday (26 October), Police Headquarters said the IGP’s remarks at the inauguration of Community Bank’s Chawkbazar Islamic Banking Branch in Dhaka had been misinterpreted in media reports and headlines.
According to the statement, the IGP used the term while referring to the need for effective action against drug traders, terrorists, extortionists and other criminals who threaten public safety. It said he had not intended to suggest extrajudicial killing or punishment outside the judicial process.
To underline the risks faced by law enforcement personnel, Police Headquarters cited figures showing that police came under attack 176 times during the first 10 months of 2026 while maintaining law and order, arresting criminals, preventing illegal activities and performing other official duties.
Four police personnel were killed and 370 seriously injured in those attacks, the statement added.
Describing Bangladesh Police as the state’s principal law enforcement agency, the headquarters said its responsibilities included preventing crime, arresting offenders, maintaining public order and safeguarding people’s lives and property.
It acknowledged that officers sometimes faced direct resistance and attacks from criminals, organised assailants and individuals who defied the law while police carried out their duties.
The statement also referred to the Penal Code 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 and the Police Act 1861, saying the country’s existing laws recognised police officers’ right to self-defence.
However, the clarification did not directly address the IGP’s earlier statement that police would resort to “crossfire” if necessary and if the government permitted it.
Nor did it explain how the term was being used in its “literal sense”, given its widespread association in Bangladesh with alleged extrajudicial killings during law enforcement operations.
The remarks have drawn criticism from rights organisations, including Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and other groups, which have called for the IGP to withdraw his comments and apologise publicly over concerns about human rights and accountability.
Police Headquarters also addressed the IGP’s comments about journalists at the same event, saying he had not intended to make a sweeping remark about the profession and that the comment had been made inadvertently.
Reaffirming its position, the headquarters said Bangladesh Police remained committed to protecting lives and property, upholding the rule of law and performing its duties with professionalism and impartiality while respecting human rights.