Khaleda seeks UN-led probe into enforced disappearances

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday urged the United Nations to take an initiative for forming an international probe team to look into all incidents of enforced disappearance in Bangladesh. Consoling the victims of enforced disappearances at a programme at her Gulshan office, the BNP chief also said she also fears of being subjected to enforce disappearance and killing anytime under the current condition of the country. BNP arranged the programme to express its consolation to the family members of 26 victims of enforced disappearance (2009-2015) marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. At the beginning of the programme, a 13-minute documentary on the victims of forced disappearance was screened. The victims’ family members also spoke at the programme and urged the government to bring back their near and dear ones. Later, addressing the programme, Khaleda said, “There’s no democracy in the country while people have no basic and human rights. No one has the right of expression and holding any programme. Those who’re in power have the only right to do anything and spread lies.”
Khaleda assured the victims’ family members that if her party comes to power it will carry out a fair investigation into all the incidents of enforced disappearance and ensure the punishment to those responsible for that, according to a news agency.
- biplab