Home affairs adviser lieutenant general (retired) Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday emphasised the need to raise public awareness about mob justice, saying citizens have no right to take the law into their own hands.
鈥楴o one has the right to enforce justice outside the law. If someone commits a crime, hand him/her over to the authorities,鈥� he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with police officers under Dhaka Metropolitan Police at the DMP headquarters in Ramna.
His comments came hours after incidents of lynching on Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University campuses that left two people dead.
Jahangir Alam also instructed the law enforcers to become more public-friendly and enhance their service-oriented approach.
鈥楶olice must not just appear efficient on paper. Their work and actions should prove they are truly serving the public,鈥� he continued.
The adviser emphasised that the police must ensure the safety of the public while avoiding harassment of innocent individuals.
鈥楴o one should be arrested without a proper investigation, and law enforcement officials must always identify themselves before making an arrest,鈥� he added.
The adviser addressed concerns about harassment through filing of cases.
He said that the majority of cases were being filed by citizens, who had long-standing grievances. This trend was expected to decrease over time as public frustration diminished.
