Nobody has right to take law in own hands: Home Adviser

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday emphasized the need to raise public awareness about mob justice, saying none has the right to take the law in own hands.

“No one has the right to enforce justice outside the law. If someone commits a crime, hand him/her over to the authorities,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with police officers under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) at the DMP Headquarters at Ramna in the capital.

His comments came hours after incidents of lynching a mentally challenged man at Dhaka University campus and former student and Chhatra League leader Shamim Ahmed alias Shamim Molla at Jahangirnagar University campus.

Jahangir Alam Chowdhury also directed the law enforcers to become more public-friendly and enhance their service-oriented approach. “Police must not just appear efficient on paper. Their work and actions should prove they are truly serving the public,” he said.

The adviser emphasized that the police must ensure the safety of the public while avoiding harassment of innocent individuals. “No one should be arrested without a proper investigation, and law enforcement officials must always identify themselves before making an arrest.”

He addressed concerns about harassment though filing of cases, saying, “The majority of cases are being filed by citizens who have long-standing grievances.”

He said this trend is expected to decrease over time as public frustration diminishes.