Dhaka: Law adviser Dr Asif Nazrul today emphasized the need for institutional reforms alongside legal measures to prevent enforced disappearances, describing the crime as worse than murder. He made these remarks during the inaugural session of a workshop held at a hotel in Gulshan, the capital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the workshop was organized by the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances with support from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations. Dr Nazrul highlighted the importance of both legal and institutional reforms in eradicating the culture of enforced disappearances. He underscored the critical role of the judiciary, stating that a courageous and impartial stance from judges is essential for executing trials related to enforced disappearances, which would help eradicate this issue from Bangladesh.
Retired justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, chairman of the Commission, presented the keynote paper, emphasizing the need for collective cooperation among the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and human rights organizations to eliminate the culture of enforced disappearances.
Other notable speakers at the workshop included Commission member retired High Court Division judge Md Farid Ahmed Shibli, Law and Justice Division Secretary Liaquet Ali Molla, and senior human rights adviser at the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Bangladesh, Huma Khan. The workshop was moderated by another Commission member, Dr Nabila Idris, a faculty member at BRAC University.
The event saw the participation of ninety individuals, including judges from various courts and tribunals, as well as trainees, engaging in discussions on tackling the issue of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh.