Dhaka: BNP on Monday demanded a judicial probe into Friday’s police firing on Kalihati demonstration in Tangail that left four people killed.

‘Police members have not been appointed to kill people. We don’t want to see people are getting killed by police. Police didn’t open fire on people at Kalihati in accordance with the rules and regulation of the force,’ said BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.

Speaking at a press briefing, he further said, ‘Seven cops wouldn’t have withdrawn had the police action in Kalihati been lawful and in accordance with police rules and regulation. We demand a judicial investigation into the incident.’

Ripon also demanded proper compensation for the victims of the incident.

On Friday, police fired on local people as they were demonstrating against the alleged rape of a woman in front of her son, killing four people and injuring many others.

The BNP spokesman came down hard on Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) SM Mahfuzul Haque Nuruzzaman for his directive to police to open fire to contain troublemakers, saying his remark is not lawful.

‘Police must maintain the law and order in accordance with the rules and regulation of the force. It’s illegal if police members open fire violating the rules,’ he observed.

DIG SM Mahfuzul Haque at an interaction in Faridpur on Sunday reportedly told policemen, ‘Open fire, if necessary. I’ll shoulder responsibility.’