::1 year of AL-led government::

Despite the government's repeated commitments not to allow extra-judicial killings some 122 people had faced such deaths during its one-year rule making it a debatable issue.

Though extra-judicial killings caused concern for rights organisations at home and abroad, the home ministry has repeatedly rejected it.

The government, like previous administrations, says law enforcement agencies are compelled to shoot miscreants to defend themselves when the criminals open fire on them.

A number of law enforcers wishing anonymity said there is no alternative to extra-judicial killings to maintain law and order until a mechanism is set up to punish offenders for every single crime in the court of law.

Explaining the reason behind the killings, the law enforcers said such killings happen as even after the arrest many top listed criminals manage to come out of jail on bail and finally return to their previous occupation evading the punishment somehow.

Poor investigation into the criminal incidents and victims' disinclination to file a case or unwillingness of witnesses to appear before court fearing the offenders are also responsible for this, they said.

Against this backdrop, they said efficiency of investigators with providing all logistic supports, ensuring accountability in prosecution and judiciary, security to witnesses and victims, disposing trial in shortest possible time can be the necessary measures to ensure punishment to the offenders.

Much to the discomfort to the government, the High Court on November 17 issued a suo moto rule upon the government for an explanation on the matter. The HC later on December 14 expressed grave concern over persistence of extra-judicial killings as 11 people were killed in custody since issuance of the suo moto rule.

Moreover, a Supreme Court judge recently told a function that extra-judicial killings and the process of police remand are disturbing for the judiciary and suicidal for the nation.

Deaths in 'crossfire' or 'encounter' began during the BNP-Jamaat led alliance government rule in 2004 following formation of Rapid Action Battalion. During June 2004 to November last year, 1,165 people had faced deaths in 'crossfire' in the country.

The number of such killings in one year since June 2004 was 358 while during the first one year of the Fakhruddin Ahmed-led caretaker government it was 130.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself categorically said in parliament that her government will not allow any kind of extra-judicial killings.

After the government assumed power the country witnessed a long lull of 'crossfire' incidents. But deaths in 'crossfires' had increased significantly in August last year following serious slide in law and order in the restive Southwest region, particularly in Kushtia, where extremist cadres beheaded seven people, mostly their rivals, within a month. The law and order is believed to have improved after the 'crossfire' incidents.

A statistics of Odhikar, a rights organisation, show from June 2004 till November 2009, a total of 1,165 extra-judicial killings took place. Of them, 542 died in 'crossfire' or 'encounters' with Rab, 539 in similar incidents with police, two were killed in encounters with the joint forces and 82 with other forces.

A Rab statistics said 606 alleged criminals were killed in 'crossfire' or 'encounters' during shootout between criminals and members of law enforcement agencies.