The country is witnessing a sharp rise in “abduction by law enforcement agencies” also known as “forced disappearance” with at least 41 people subjected to such incidents in the first two months of the current year.
The number was 53 last year, according to statistics of rights bodies prepared from reports published in newspapers. The victims include politicians, businessmen, students, teachers, and leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and the BNP.
Families of the victims keep waiting for their loved ones to return some day since most of the victims could not be traced until date.
According to Ain O Salish Kendra, among this year’s abductees four were from Bangladesh Chhatra League (students’ wing of AL), two from Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing), three from Jamaat-e-Islami and 11 from the BNP. Among others, one is a businessman while the nine others have no political affiliation.
According to ASK, of the 41 people abducted this year, bodies of only seven were found while two persons released later. Last year, five dead bodies were recovered, three handed over to the police while two were shown arrested.
In early April last year, Mofizul Islam Rashed, 32, a Chhatra Dal leader was picked up from in front of Diamond Garment on Mirpur Mazar Road’s second colony allegedly by a group of people dressed like members of Detective Branch (DB) of Police, says his family.
Rashed’s uncle Mohammad Titu told the Dhaka Tribune that they had searched for him everywhere and also visited the police stations. The DB and RAB offices said they did not know anything.
On April 11, Nazrul Islam, a teacher of Joypurhat Talimul Islam School and College, was picked up allegedly by some law enforcers. He is yet to be rescued.
In January this year, police allegedly picked up five AL activists for their alleged connection with the killing of another party man, Singra Upazila Chairman Fazlur Rahman. Family members of the victim alleged that he was taken away by a group of Dhaka DB unit officials.
These “missing” people also include Singra BNP’s Organising Secretary Ibrahim Khalil and local AL activist Shamsul Islam.
Bangladesh Chhatra Union former vice-president Shamim Akther was picked up on September 29, 2011 while a youth named Obaidur was picked up by the law enforcers on December 26, 2012 from Dhaka and Gopalganj.
In March 2012, Sylhet district Chhatra Dal Joint General Secretary Dinar and another leader Junayed were picked up in the same manner. All these persons remain missing until date.
Rights activists and lawyers have expressed their grave concern over such rise in “enforced disappearance” saying that such state-backed crimes are more heinous than the crimes committed by individuals or gangs.
Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker said if anybody could prove the involvement of the law enforcement agencies in such abduction, the authorities would take action against those personnel.
“We are also sincere in investigating such issues whenever the families [of victims] file cases alleging abduction by law enforcers,” he said claiming that the law enforcers maintain their duties and responsibilities properly.
Lawyer Sigma Huda labels enforced disappearance as a “ferocious” incident.
“Sometimes I wonder whether being kidnapped by criminals is safer than being picked up by the law enforcers or not. At least, if one is kidnapped by criminals there is a chance of rescuing him after fulfilling the kidnapper’s demand. On the other hand, if one is subjected to enforced disappearance, then nobody can hope he/she can be rescued.”
She also alleged that there had been a number of cases where the law enforcers committed such crimes being influenced by the politically- and financially-powerful people.
Pointing out that from 2009 to 2013 more than 156 persons were subjected to such disappearance, Sultana Kamal, executive director of ASK, said: “The state still has to develop itself with regard to protecting and promoting human rights.”
Source: Dhaka Tribune
