Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Former Chairman, National Human Rights Commission

Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Former Chairman, National Human Rights Commission  : Despite the government announcing a zero-tolerance policy for the ongoing anti-narcotics operation, in reality, we have not yet seen anything to reflect that.
Even if small or mid-level dealers are being caught, we are not seeing the zero-tolerance policy in action because no action is being taken against the big drug suppliers. Does this mean that this operation is nothing but a farce? Is this being done just to create panic? If this creates panic on a national level, the security of the people will be at risk.
Risking the security of the people is a violation of their human rights. If the state cannot even guarantee my safety, how can it ensure my rights? The state should be careful about this, it must scrutinize whether human rights are being violated. A firm solution must be found. I believe this campaign must be reevaluated. The people are raising questions about Cox’s Bazar municipal councilor Ekram’s death. The government should look into it.
Is the ongoing anti-narcotics operation a special initiative? If it were, it would have had a specific timeframe. War could go on for six, seven or even 15 days, but it cannot go on for good. Only once in history did we see warfare take place for such a long time – the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. We would definitely not want something like that to happen again. If such a situation arises – a war without progress – constitutional questions will begin to rise. Nevertheless, this war must have a specific time limit.
Our activities against criminals – eradicating crime, identifying criminals, taking action against them, and bringing them under the law –- these all will keep going on. This is a running process. The security forces were formulated to ensure legal measure, stop crime rates, catching criminals; no matter wherever, whatever a crime takes place. Such activities have to be continuing for the sake of the existence of a state.
Based on an interview by Ashik Rahman, translated by Abrar Hussain