Date: 29 August 2023

Message from BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

“With millions of Bangladeshis, I am deeply concerned over the relentless fact of Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh, where a haunting specter has cast its shadow under Sheikh Hasina regime. From credible human rights groups, it is recognized that at least 659 people have been abducted by the law enforcement agencies and disappeared between January 2009 and June 2023. None of them have been afforded justice as of today.

These people weren't just numbers; they were beloved family members, abruptly snatched away by brutal force, leaving behind shattered dreams and a traumatized nation. Such actions strike at the very core of our shared humanity, constituting an intolerable offense against the values we hold dear. Enforced Disappearance, as described in Article 7(2) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), is unequivocally classified as a Crime Against Humanity, a designation that underscores the gravity of these violations and the urgent need for justice.

As we approach the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, my thoughts transcend borders and politics, to all those suffering worldwide. This is a global plea for justice, a call to unite against this darkness and ensure accountability for the perpetrators.

On behalf of my party, my commitment is that Bangladesh will ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED), as well as adopt a legislation in accordance with ICPPED, with the topmost priority, if the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP forms the government with peoples mandate. Justice must prevail for this grave crime against humanity!”

Message sender:

(Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi)

Senior Joint Secretary

Bangladesh Nationalist Party - BNP