Desk Report: Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has strongly condemned Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir’s reported remark that police could resort to “crossfire” if the government permits it, calling the statement a serious blow to the rule of law and demanding its immediate withdrawal and an unconditional apology to the nation.In a joint statement issued on Monday, October 26, 2026, Chhatra Shibir Central President Nurul Islam and Secretary General Sibgatullah said the statement by the country's top police official had raised serious concerns about constitutional rights, human rights and the protection of citizens' lives.The student organisation also urged the government to take appropriate administrative measures and ensure that law enforcement agencies perform their duties strictly in accordance with the Constitution and existing laws.“An open declaration of extrajudicial killing, such as crossfire, by an official holding the highest position in the police force is a serious blow to the Constitution, human rights and the rule of law,” the statement said.The leaders argued that when the head of an agency responsible for preventing and investigating crime presents extrajudicial killing as a possible course of action, it threatens citizens' constitutional rights and undermines public confidence in the justice system.Referring to Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution, they said every citizen is entitled to legal protection, life and personal liberty. These rights, they added, cannot be curtailed at the discretion of an executive authority.The Shibir leaders maintained that the police have no authority to take someone's life outside the judicial process simply because the person has been accused of a crime.They also expressed concern over a statement issued by Police Headquarters in response to the IGP's remarks, alleging that the explanation sought to justify his position. Describing the alleged justification as a manifestation of an authoritarian mindset, the leaders said determining guilt and deciding punishment were matters for the courts, not the police. “The responsibility of the police is to investigate crimes and bring accused persons before the court. They have no authority to declare anyone guilty or impose punishment outside the judicial process,” the statement said. The organisation further pointed out that crossfire was not prescribed as a punishment for any offence under the country's existing laws. It argued that, regardless of how the term was interpreted, using it to take a person's life without due judicial process amounted to extrajudicial killing. The leaders also drew comparisons with the period they described as the fascist era, alleging that citizens had then faced threats to their lives and property, while freedom of expression had been severely undermined. They referred to allegations of enforced disappearances, abductions by law enforcement personnel, crossfire incidents and killings without trial during that period. According to the statement, the IGP's recent remarks have revived fears that such incidents could recur. The leaders further argued that the remarks could be interpreted as an indication of willingness to carry out similar operations in the future and could encourage unlawful use of force and abuse of authority by police officers at the field level. They warned that such statements could also create fear and insecurity among ordinary citizens, stressing that the head of a key law enforcement institution should demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the law and constitutional principles. Chhatra Shibir called on the IGP to withdraw his remarks and apologise to the nation without conditions. It also urged the government to take appropriate administrative action and ensure accountability within law enforcement agencies. The controversy has brought renewed attention to the principles governing police powers, the protection of the right to life and the requirement that allegations of criminal offences be dealt with through established legal and judicial procedures.  The demands were made in the joint statement issued by the student organisation on Monday. The allegations and interpretations concerning the IGP's remarks and the Police Headquarters' response reflect the position expressed by Chhatra Shibir.