None would become victim, if people vote BNP to power

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said none would become victim of enforced disappearance, if his party is voted to power by the people.

He also stressed the need for ensuring justice against the crime (enforced disappearance).

"Enforced disappearance is a crime, which is totally a gross violation of fundamental human rights. BNP will ensure that none would become victim of enforced disappearance, if we are voted to power by the people in future."

He said these in a statement, sent to the media on Thursday, marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

Every year on August 30th, the world observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The day highlights the grave injustices, faced by countless individuals and their families around the world, and calls for action to prevent such atrocities in the future.

"Like the countrymen, I also expressed concern over the unprecedented incidents of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh. It was used as a tool of state machinery (on the opponents)."

"Enforced disappearances took place during the misrule of Sheikh Hasina just to create panic among the people and the society."

"The reliable human rights organisations have simultaneously published reports that said the law-enforcing agencies were engaged in around 700 enforced disappearances from 2009 to until to date."

"It is very painful that justice was not ensured even in a single incident of enforced disappearance until today," he stated.

"The persons who became victims of enforced disappearance were the dear ones to their family members. Their dreams and prosperous future were shattered. We don't know about the whereabouts of those persons."

"We don't know where the victims are now, but they left a Bangladesh that is a tragic and full of agonies, where our hard-earned human rights and values were violated."

"Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Article 7(2) says enforced disappearance is an international crime and focuses on ensuring justice for violation of human rights."

The acting chairman of BNP further said people observe the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances in remembrance of the persons, who became victims of enforced disappearance, to convey sympathies to the victims' families.

"I call for building unity and solidarity across the globe against the persons and organisations, involved with this inhuman act of crime, and also for establishing justice and accountability."

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