Victims of enforced disappearance, rights campaigners and leaders of a Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance marched toward Bangladesh’s Parliament on Sunday, demanding accountability for past disappearances and stronger legal protections against the practice.
The National Committee on Resistance Against Enforced Disappearances organised the march to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
The procession began at Banglamotor intersection at around 3:40 PM and reached Manik Mia Avenue in front of the Parliament at about 4:30 PM.
Organisers said a rally would be held there before a delegation submitted a memorandum to the Speaker.
Senior leaders of the 11-party alliance joined the march alongside several people who said they had been subjected to enforced disappearance during the Awami League government.
Participants included Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, former BNP leader Major (Retd.) Akhtaruzzaman, who recently joined Jamaat, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad and JAGPA Vice President Rashed Pradhan.
Before the march, the National Committee held a brief rally at around 3 PM in front of Rupayan Trade Centre in Banglamotor.
Hasinur Rahman, a former army officer and victim of enforced disappearance during the Awami League government, presided over the rally.
Hasinur sharply criticised Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and demanded that the Enforced Disappearance Prevention Ordinance drafted under the previous interim government be enacted into law.
Akhtaruzzaman and several others also addressed the gathering.
Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the 11-party alliance, expressed solidarity with the campaign and said the march would end in front of Parliament, from where a delegation would enter the building to submit a memorandum to the Speaker.
The procession began immediately after the speeches, with demonstrators chanting slogans demanding an end to secret detention facilities and justice for victims of enforced disappearance.
Among the slogans were: “Aynaghor in Bangladesh will exist no more,” “My brother is in his grave, why is the killer in India?” and “Besiege, besiege, the Parliament building will be besieged.”
Participants also chanted “Nara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar.”
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