BNP today claimed that around 1,209 people including some senior leaders of the party were made disappeared in the last 10 years’ rule of the Awami League.
“Since Awami League-led grand alliance assumed power in 2009, around 1,209 people were made disappeared in the last 10 years. Of them, 781 people were disappeared by members of the law enforcement agencies,” BNP Senior Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed claimed.
While addressing a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka this noon on the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, Rizvi warned the people responsible for this will be tried through proper investigation.
The International Day of the Disappeared, also known as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, is observed on August 30 every year.
This day draws attention to the fate of individuals abducted or detained by agents of the state (or those acting with support of the state), and held in locations concealed from their relatives and legal representatives.
Claiming that the enforced disappearances violate fundamental human rights, Rizvi said that the ruling quarter has chosen the path of enforced disappearance to destroy the country’s hard-earned democracy.
The trend of disappearance started from 1972 to 1975 with a political motive, Rizvi, also spokesperson of BNP, said during the press conference.
“With a farsighted agenda of eliminating opposition political parties and establishing and prolonging an authoritarian state and one-party rule in the country, the culture of enforced disappearance was incepted at that time,” Rizvi said.
The government is now making people disappear as a tool so that they cannot become vocal against the misdeeds and repressive acts of the government, the BNP leader alleged.
Holding the ruling Awami League responsible for the random disappearances and incidents of crossfire, Rizvi said such acts cannot happen without the direct instigation of the government.
Mass and social communication media are being flooded with the news of the enforced disappearances and incidents of crossfire while the government is keeping mum in this regard, he added.
