Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Benazir Ahmed yesterday said the National Human Rights Commission chairman's visit to an alleged militant at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital was a "violation of law".

"He [Nafiz] is a self-proclaimed criminal. His organisation [Hizb-ut Tahrir] is banned. If someone goes against the ban, it will be a violation of law," the DMP boss told journalists at a programme at DMP Media Centre.

The programme was arranged in recognition of the bravery of three persons who helped police arrest some pickets during the shutdown on November 6.

NHRC Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman, however, refuted the DMP boss's remarks and said he had visited bullet-hit Nafiz as per the NHRC Act,

The chairman said he was empowered to visit any place and person deemed important to monitoring issues of human rights.

"We always say that it is the court which delivers verdict on whether anyone is criminal...and even for a criminal, we must ensure the minimum human rights," Prof Mizanur told The Daily Star over the phone.

He cited article 12 of the NHRC Act 2009 that states: "The Commission shall perform...To inspect any jail or any other places where persons are detained or lodged for the purpose of correction, custody, treatment, or such other welfare, and to make recommendation to the government thereon for the development of those places and conditions."

Shooting point-blank in someone's leg only on the basis of allegation cannot be accepted, he said.

Prof Mizanur on Thursday visited Nafiz, 32, an alleged activist of banned Islamist outfit Hizb-ut-Tahrir, at the DMCH. Nafiz, who received bullets in his left leg and lower back on October 17, alleged he was shot point-blank by police after a chase. He denied involvement with Tahrir.

During his visit, the NHRC chairman also said when police personnel hailing from "one particular district" got custody of the accused, they thought they were above everything and that the law could not touch them.

“They even think that instructions of their superior officials are not worth obeying," he said, casting doubt on whether the chain of command in the police force is properly maintained.

Refuting such allegations, the DMP boss said: "If someone says there is no chain of command in the police force, his claims are hypothetical," the DMP boss told reporters at DMP Media Centre.

In response, Prof Mizanur told The Daily Star that the commission had received allegations in the past that people, failing to lodge cases with police stations, sought help from higher officials in the force. Even though the higher officials had ordered their subordinates to look into the matter, justice-seekers had to return empty-handed.

"When a hypothesis is attempted, it is usually based on concrete substance and facts of life. It does not come out of the vacuum,” he said.

Following Prof Mizanur's remarks, the DMP issued a press statement clarifying its position on Nafiz while the NHRC issued its own statement, refuting the views expressed by DMP.

DMP boss Benazir said such disputes might stand in the way of ensuring human rights for all.

But the NHRC boss said such disputes might help institutions and individuals to realise their own responsibilities.