Dhaka: BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today said the culture of disappearances must be stopped and the state must play a strong role in this regard to uphold human rights. He made these remarks in a statement issued on the occasion of International Week in Remembrance of Disappeared Persons.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rahman highlighted that approximately 666 people were abducted by law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh from 2009 to March 2024. He indicated that BNP estimates suggest the actual number of enforced disappearances is several times higher. Many of the abducted individuals remain missing, some bodies have been discovered, and a few have been shown as arrested after extended periods, Rahman noted.
Rahman criticized the previous Awami regime, labeling the disappearances as an example of brutal misrule. He pointed out that the figures are derived from reports by families of the disappeared, and many families, out of fear, did not report these incidents. He expressed concern that no trace has been found of those taken by law enforcement even after 10-15 years.
The statement also emphasized that leaders, activists, and supporters of opposition political parties have been the primary targets of these abductions. However, businessmen, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens have also been victims. Rahman called attention to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which defines abduction as a crime against human rights, asserting that this culture must be eradicated to protect human rights.