EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS : UK wants investigation

The British government on Tuesday stressed the need for proper investigation into the incidents of extrajudicial killings and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
‘Bangladesh is a democracy and it is essential that democratic values should be preserved and maintained…And that you can’t tolerate extra judicial killing,’ UK state
minister for international development Desmond Swayne said at a press conference in Dhaka.
‘It is essential that those crime[s] are investigated and the perpetrators are brought to justice,’ he said at the British High Commission Staff Club.
‘It is for the government and police to ensure that those crimes are investigated and pursued.’
On a query on concern about freedom of speech, freedom of press and space for civil society in Bangladesh, the British state minister said that they wanted peaceful society with strong civil society, strong institutions including the press to make the government accountable.
In an explanatory mood, he said, ‘but it is not for me to lecture you how and tell you how to achieve that. This is your country and your democracy and your politicians and you sort it.’
About the arrest of a British national for alleged involvement in blogger killing, He said, ‘It’s a fact that there are wicked people in the UK as well. It is right that police should pursue the investigation wherever the evidence leads and if it is UK citizen who is responsible for these crimes then he should be held to account for it.’
He said, ‘My understanding is that the individual in question has been arrested as the mastermind rather than actual individual. That does not preclude him having been taken into custody irrespective of what time it was committed. That’s a huge speculation on my part.’
About a possible amendment to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, he said, ‘Changes in the law will give a wrong signal…It will be very unwelcoming and unfortunate to bring changes in the law that give the wrong signal.’
On pricing of apparel products, Desmond Swayne said that certainly people were prepared to pay higher prices for quality.
‘Bangladesh has a great deal of potential in terms of more training and greater productivity and the ability to produce for the higher end of the market.’
On Bangladesh’s ambition to become a middle income country, he said that the middle income countries should have more domestic resources with higher revenue earning.
He announced that the UK would provide £3 million to help flood affected people in Bangladesh.
The British High Commissioner in Dhaka, Robert W Gibson, and DFID country head Sarah Cooke were present.
The British minister, during his three-day visit starting from Sunday, called on, among others, prime minister Sheikh Hasina, finance minister AMA
Muhith, foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali and BRAC chairman Sir Fazle Hasan Abed.
Arrest warrants
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Paribahan bus on fire throwing firebomb on Khilgaon Flyover in the city on January 30 during the countrywide nonstop blockade sponsored by the BNP-led alliance.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net