Hold speedy trial of enforced disappearance cases: Human rights activists
Human rights activists also demanded an end to such ‘crimes against humanity’
Human rights activists have called for speedy trial of all the incidences of enforced disappearances in the country and an end to such crimes.
They defined enforced disappearances carried out by people identifying themselves as members of different law enforcement agencies as crimes against humanity.
Those involved in such crimes must face justice today or tomorrow, rights activists said at a webinar titled "We want justice for all extrajudicial killings, disappearances and torture" organised on Saturday.
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The Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights organised the event on the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30.
Presided over by Supreme Court lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik, Dr Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University in the USA, Nitya Ramakrishnan, a prominent Indian lawyer and human rights activist, and Barrister Sara Hossain, human rights activist Nur Khan Liton, among others, took part in the discussion.
Human rights activist Zakir Hossain moderated the programme.
Dr Shahdeen Malik said, "We all need to be vocal against such enforced disappearances. We have to demand that the state stop such incidents. All the incidents of enforced disappearances must be tried. Visible steps must be taken in order to prevent any more disappearances at the hands of state forces.
"The incidences of disappearances were a crime against humanity under international law. We have been witnessing such incidences since 2004. Now we have to look into whether the incidences of disappearances is a crime against humanity under the UN Convention."
Shahdeen Malik said that after the killing of retired Major Sinha Md Rashed Khan, the incidences of disappearances and crossfire have decreased.
"In every country where extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances have happened, trials are taking place there. Trials will take place in our country too. Society cannot survive without justice for such heinous crimes," he added.
The eminent lawyer said that since the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the trials of many heinous atrocities, including the grenade attack on August 21, 2004 have been done.
"Those who carried out these crimes believed that they were above the law. But the incidents have been tried. I am sure that in the continuation of these trials, this society and this country will have to try these heinous crimes (disappearances) today or tomorrow."
He added that the disappearances began in the 1970s in South American countries. Later, almost all the cases of disappearance have been tried. Many heads of government in those countries have also faced trial.
"I always say to law enforcement agencies that those involved in these crimes are usually between 30 and 40 years old. According to the average life expectancy in our country, you will live another 30/40 years. Undoubtedly you will live long. This means that today or tomorrow these crimes will be tried in your lifetime. Society must try the incidents."
Professor Ali Riaz said that the Rome Statute has made it clear that enforced disappearances are a crime against humanity. As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Bangladesh cannot allow such crimes to be committed.
"Now this crime has become almost an epidemic. We must put pressure on the state to implement the commitment of Bangladesh as a signatory to the Rome Statute so that such crimes do not happen again in future."
He said that there is no alternative to building a good platform to put pressure on the state.
Indian lawyer Nitya Ramakrishnan highlighted the incidents of disappearances in India and Bangladesh. At the same time, he upheld the various notable judgments and orders of Indian courts and demanded the government to take visible steps to stop the incidences of enforced disappearances.
Sanjida Islam, convener of the Mayer Dak (the call of mothers), a platform comprising family members of the disappearance victims, said the trend of enforced disappearance had increased ahead of the 2014 national election.
"And especially the leaders and activists of the opposition have been the victims in most of the cases."
She said, "Another person went missing on December 4, 2013. His name is Sajedul Islam Sumon. He was the general secretary of BNP in Dhaka's 25th ward. He is Sanjid's brother."
"There is no level of administration where we have not communicated. But now it is going to be about seven years and we still have no news about him."
Sanjida said that a writ petition was filed in the High Court in 2016 for the rescue of her brother but it has not been possible to present it for hearing so far.
Human chain
On the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Mayer Dak organised a human chain in front of the National Museum in the capital's Shahbagh area on Saturday afternoon, demanding the return of the victims to their families.
Civil society representatives, including the family members of the missing people, were present.
Marufa Islam Ferdousi, sister of Sajedul Islam Sumon, presided over the programme.
