Making a statement in parliament, Lutfozzaman Babar said the law enforcers had not harassed any innocent people. Those arrested were all criminals and offenders; most were notorious criminals having more than 20 cases of murders against them.

He claimed that police or Rab had not killed any arrested people, saying that the criminals were killed in gunfight.

Everyone has the right to self-defence, he said, adding: "Do you want that a trained law enforcer should suffer bullet wounds in protecting a notorious criminal?"

Referring to criticism against the deaths in crossfire, the state minister said some people have become jealous at the success of Rab and police operations. They do not want the people to get rid of criminals and offenders and are issuing sweeping statements against the law enforcers.

Some non-governmental organisations have joined them, trying to generate sympathy for the criminals and offenders by raising the question of human rights, he added.

He said hundreds of innocent people and law enforcers were killed by the criminals. As many as 50 policemen were killed during the last three years, he added .

Recalling Khaleda Zia's pre-election commitment to eliminate crimes, he said the prime minister had ordered to consider the criminals as criminals only and the administration was functioning impartially.

He said although Mominullah David of Narayanganj claimed himself as a Jubo Dal leader, he was a dangerous terror. The present government is committed to take action against terrorism and terrorists irrespective of party affiliation.

The state minister mentioned the spate of terrorism during the previous Awami League rule, saying terrorism got institutional shape then under the state patronisation creating various private forces by party MPs, ministers and their sons and cousins.

He said the previous government created some "godfathers" and was rejected by the people since they did not take any legal action against the terrorists, rather rewarded them.

About the August 21 grenade attack, he said the government was determined to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Investigation has not been finished, he added, deploring that the investigators did not get any cooperation from the main opposition.

Babar said the government had ordered the police to nab 'Bangla Bhai', but police could not trace him, although some of his associates were arrested.

The government constituted five police teams to arrest `Bangla Bhai', he added.