Farhad Mazhar was finally rescued. When the police took him into their custody, the abductors had released him by then.
He was on a Dhaka-bound bus which had left from Khulna. The police had started the rescue process before that. The borders were kept under watch so that he could not be smuggled over to the other side. There was the fear that he might end up with the same horrific fate as so many others. Even Bangladesh’s home minister expressed his apprehension that the abductors might take him across the border. He said they were very worried about how terrible the consequences would be.
It is evident from all this, the government was determined not to let the situation get out of hand. We can thank the government for that. It can also be said that unless the government took action, Farhad Mazhar might not even have been rescued. But the government’s responsibility doesn’t end there. It must unearth the identity of the abductors. That is most important.
Many others before Farhad Mazhar have disappeared or were abducted. Many of them remain missing, others have ended up dead, others have been shown to be arrested, and yet others have returned in a devastated condition. As for the arrested ones, it can be assumed that the police had picked them up in the first place. But till date the government has failed to come up with an answer as to who abducted the others.
Farhad Mazhar’s case may end up similarly, with no answers. After being rescued, he was kept at the police station for long. From there, he was taken on to the court where his deposition was recorded. He was then released at his own undertaking. The government termed him as a victim. However, it isn’t legal to not allow a victim to consult his lawyer.
The question now is, how freely did Farhad Mazhar issue the statements he has purportedly made so far? He has not held the government responsible. He apprehends that someone may have carried this out in order to besmirch the government.
The home minister too has said that they have not found any fault of Farhad Mazhar so far. Then it seems that both the sides are indicating the involvement of a third party.
It is the responsibility of the government, and of the government alone, to find this third party.
Many of the families of persons who have been abducted in the past, as well as eyewitnesses of the incidents, accuse the law enforcement agencies. However, the persons who have returned from these abductions or disappearances remain silent. They do not dare accuse anyone. Their families are just relieved to get them back and also remain completely silent on the issue.
Farhad Mazhar is one of those who have managed to return. He had been beaten up by his abductors. He had been blindfolded and had even told his family that he feared that he would be killed. Like the others, perhaps he too will not say anything new about the abduction. He may not even seek justice. But that does not mean the government’s duty ends there.
It is the fundamental duty of any government to find the person responsible for any crime. Generally speaking, those who themselves are responsible for the crime, or are somehow involved in it, do not carry out this duty. The government in our country has the dubious reputation of being behind the disappearances. Only by identifying those behind the disappearances and abductions, not by rhetoric or threats, will the government absolve itself of this notoriety.
Those responsible for the abduction of Farhad Mazhar must be arrested and handed over to the law. We are certain that the government has the ability to do this, by tracking Farhad Mazhar’s phone, collecting forensic evidence from the microbus in which he was picked up, and by speaking to eyewitnesses.
The government has yet another responsibility after Farhad Mazhar’s abduction. The home minister had expressed his fear that Farhad Mazhar could have been taken across the border. In the past there was the instance of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed being abducted and taken across the border to India. All this indicates that there is a quarter with the intention and ability to whisk off anyone of a different view, and take them across the border to India. The government must find out who these powerful quarters are and why they try to take the victims across the border.
Then for the sake of argument, let’s say that those of different views, may stage a drama and cross the border on their own accord, without any passport or visa. If that be the case, then the government must find out why the border security on both sides of the fence failed to prevent them.
India is known to be our friend. Even for the sake of friendship with India, the government must look into this. The people must know the truth.
Now let’s turn to a different aspect of Farhad Mazhar’s abduction. The society has long been uneasy at the spate of disappearances that have been occurring. There have been elements leading to certain assumptions. For example, it was normally the anti-government politicians who disappeared. And these were the politicians capable of creating agitation in the streets. But it was perhaps unimaginable that someone as senior as Farhad Mazhar, someone so renowned in so many ways, could suddenly vanish, be abducted and disappear!.
Farhad Mazhar is not a politician. There circumstances are not conducive for throwing the government off balance by any agitation on the streets. He is a man of a different mindset. He was a stern critic of disappearances and crossfire, of the 5 January election, of the government’s attitude towards religion-based politics, of the government’s India policy and many other aspects of the government. In this country many people of the left, right and middle-of-the-road stance, strongly criticise the government.
After being abducted and facing the threat of death, perhaps Farhad Mazhar will remain silent for long. But the question is, what message has this incident delivered to those of differing views?
There is another frightening message in the abduction of Farhad Mazhar. That is the pathetic state of a class of human rights activists and civil society. Farhad Mazhar would often come up with controversial statements. Many might find his statement provocative, instigative. Anyone has the right to oppose him, even demand that he be tried. But no normal person of a sane mind can simply accept his disappearance.
Even the most aggressive person, even a serial killer, has the right to a fair trial. If they had this simple sense, the human rights activists and organisations of the country could have expressed concern at his abduction. Even after his rescue, they could have questioned the government’s role and responsibility in this incident. Bust as in many instances of the past, they have proved to be a failure once again.
The people can be diametrically divided in other fields of the society. They can be immune, even perversely happy, if anyone is abducted. They even concoct up stories to justify his abduction. Persons of such perverted mindset do exist. But those who claim to be human rights activists, who rake in big bucks from home and abroad in the name of upholding human rights, have the responsibility to protest if anyone’s human rights are violated or there is an apprehension of rights being violated.
When this sense of responsibility diminishes in a society, it makes things easy for the government to do as it pleases. Local and foreign conspiracies then are easily hatched. Anyone in society can be at risk at one point of time or the other.
We must understand this. And it is those who are working in the field of human rights and the rule of law, who must perceive this even more. If not, the horrors of disappearances, abductions and killings will simply take firm toot in the society.
Source: Prothom Alo
