Fakhrul to govt: Investigate incidents of enforced disappearance under UN or face trial

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday warned that the Awami League government must be brought to justice for indulging in enforced disappearances if it does not investigate such allegations under the UN mechanism.

“On this day, we stand with family members and children of the victims of enforced disappearances demanding that an independent and impartial investigation be carried out immediately under the United Nation,” he said.

Speaking at a human chain programme, he also said, “Or else, you will be brought to justice like the heads of the government in different countries who were tried for indulging in enforced disappearances and killings in the past."

BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the programme in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, reports UNB.

Family members, including kids, of many leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, who have been subjected to enforced disappearance, also spoke at the programme.

They narrated the ordeal and mental trauma they are going through losing their near and dear ones and called upon the government to take steps for bringing the missing people back to their families.

Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has established a reign of terror. “They’re running the country by resorting to intimidation, enforced disappearance and killing.”

He urged the party leaders and activists to get ready for making more sacrifices by waging an irresistible movement together with people to trace out the victims of the enforced disappearance and bring smiles to the faces of their children and other family members.

“They (govt) have already got afraid of our current movement and unleashed oppressive forces. No repressive acts will work this time as people have started waking up,” he said.

The BNP leader called upon people of all walks of life to come forward to save the country and end misrule by ousting the current ‘fascists’ regime through a strong movement.

Expressing solidarity with the family members of the victims of the enforced disappearance, Fakhrul said, “You’re not alone since the people of the entire country are with you and they will carry out a struggle for you.”

Govt lying about HR situation

Fakhrul alleged that the government is lying about the country’s human rights situation and about the UN’s concern over the violation of rights in Bangladesh. “They’re resorting to so much lies in Goebbelsian style that they deserve a special Nobel Prize for lying.”

He said United Nations high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet has recently visited the country and talked to a cross-section of people. “Later, she talked to ministers and raised concern about the human rights violations and asked them to address the problems.”

In her press conference before wrapping up her visit, Bachelet categorically said the incidents of human rights violations like enforced disappearance and extra-judicial killing, have been taking place in Bangladesh, Fakhrul pointed out.

“She ( Bachelet) also said it is the responsibility of the authorities concerned to investigate whether any member of the Bangladesh Army working in the UN peacekeeping mission is involved in human rights violations. These hints and statements are not ordinary words,” he observed.

Investigate incidents of enforced disappearance under UN or face trial: Fakhrul to govt
The BNP leader said the government has insulted the nation by sending a police officer accused of rights violations to a programme of the UN with a three-day visa only to demonstrate its unnecessary audacity.

He slammed the ruling party leaders for their comments that the UN high commissioner for human rights did not say anything about the violation of rights during her visit to Bangladesh, saying it’s a blatant lie.

“You’re deceiving people. The UN rights chief of course clearly said human rights have been violated in Bangladesh and proper and neutral investigation should be carried out into the allegation of enforced disappearance,” Fakhrul said.

Over a hundred family members of the enforced disappearance victims participated in the programme carrying photos of their loved ones.

Several thousand BNP leaders and activists stood in a line on one side of the road from Fakirapool Intersection to the Nightingale Crossing, protesting the incidents of enforced disappearance.

They also carried various placards demanding an end to disappearances, extrajudicial killings and political persecution.

In the programme, BNP workers acted out the scenes of the becoming victims of disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Several thousand BNP leaders and activists stood in a line on one side of the road from Fakirapool Intersection to the Nightingale Crossing, protesting the incidents of enforced disappearance.