Opposition chief demands rescue of disappeared people, exemplary punishment for perpetrators

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman has demanded that the government immediately rescue victims of enforced disappearance and return them to their families, and bring those responsible for such crimes against humanity to justice.

In a statement issued on the eve of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, observed on August 30, he said the day has been observed worldwide since 2011 to remember victims of enforced disappearance and express solidarity with their families.

“No one other than the affected families can fully understand the pain of losing a loved one. Even after years, countless families are suffering deep psychological trauma and humanitarian crises without knowing the fate of their loved ones, while many families have been completely devastated,” he said.

Referring to enforced disappearances in Bangladesh and around the world, Shafiqur Rahman said people continue to disappear in different countries as victims of political persecution by authoritarian rulers.

“Sadly, Bangladesh was no exception,” he said.

Citing information from domestic and international human rights organisations, he claimed that more than 700 people from different professions and backgrounds, including leaders and activists of opposition political parties, had disappeared during the rule of Sheikh Hasina.

He alleged that secret detention centres, including “Ainaghar”, were established to suppress dissent and that innocent people were subjected to severe torture there for years.

“Keeping citizens in such conditions in an independent and sovereign country is not only a gross violation of basic human rights but also a clear violation of international law,” he said.

Shafiqur Rahman criticised the government’s handling of legislation on enforced disappearances.

He said the interim government had issued the Prevention and Remedies of Disappearances Ordinance, 2025 to prevent enforced disappearances and ensure punishment for those involved.

However, he said the ordinance ceased to remain effective 30 days after the first session of the current Parliament began, as the newly formed government decided not to turn it into law, citing inconsistencies in some of its provisions.

He said the government later amended the ordinance and prepared a new draft bill, but claimed that the draft undermined the main objective of the proposed law.

Shafiqur Rahman expressed concern over provisions that would give police the authority to receive complaints and investigate enforced disappearance cases, saying such crimes had often involved law enforcement agencies.

“Handing over investigations into allegations against law enforcement agencies to the same agencies is an unwise decision,” he said.

He also questioned the decision to place the responsibility for maintaining a database on enforced disappearances with the government.

He said there were concerns about the impartiality and accuracy of such a database if government agencies themselves were allegedly involved in disappearances.

Shafiqur Rahman also criticised the exclusion of the National Human Rights Commission from investigations and inquiries into enforced disappearance cases.

He said the responsibility for investigating such sensitive cases should instead be given to an independent and impartial institution such as the National Human Rights Commission.

He further criticised proposed changes to the National Human Rights Commission Act, claiming that the amendments would weaken the commission and turn it into a “toothless tiger”.

Shafiqur Rahman expressed hope that the government would give the humanitarian crisis caused by enforced disappearances top priority.

He urged the government to take effective steps to rescue all missing and abducted citizens and return them safely to their families as soon as possible.

He also called for exemplary punishment for those directly or indirectly involved in enforced disappearances and abductions, including those who ordered or masterminded such crimes.

“We expect the government to move away from the practice of politicising institutions and focus on protecting the fundamental rights of the people,” he said.

He also called for enforced disappearance to be recognised as a special crime and for a special, independent legal framework to ensure proper investigation, fair proceedings and speedy trials of those responsible.