BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Wednesday demanded the government put on trial the perpetrators of each extrajudicial killing carried in the name of anti-narcotic drive through forming a judicial probe commission.

‘The anti-narcotic drive is conspiratorial and ill-conceived one. Stop the drive immediately being carried out to kill people, and form a judicial probe commission headed by a retired Chief Justice,’ he said, reports the UNB.

Speaking at a discussion, 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.’

Pro-BNP faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club protesting torture on journalists and demanding the withdrawal of ‘false’ cases filed against senior journalists Shawkat Mahmud and Mahmdudur Rahman.

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 connivance 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-current 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.