The National Committee Against Enforced Disappearances held a march towards the Jatiya Sangsad today to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, with top leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance joining the programme.
The march began from Banglamotor around 3:45pm and ended in front of parliament, where a brief rally was held. Later, a delegation submitted a memorandum to the Speaker of the parliament.
Among those taking part were Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad, former BNP leader Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad and JAGPA Vice-President Rashed Pradhan.
Many people who were subjected to enforced disappearance during the Awami League government were also present.
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At the parliament rally, speakers included Rokeya Begum, mother of July martyr Jabir Ibrahim and a reserved-seat MP, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and Sirajganj-4 MP Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, and Dhaka-14 MP Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem. Photo: Anisur Rahman
Earlier, the committee held a rally at Banglamotor around 3:00pm. Former army officer Hasinur Rahman, who was himself a victim of enforced disappearance, chaired the rally and demanded that the ordinance on preventing enforced disappearances, drafted during the interim government, be enacted into law.
At the parliament rally, speakers included Rokeya Begum, mother of July martyr Jabir Ibrahim and a reserved-seat MP, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and Sirajganj-4 MP Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, and Dhaka-14 MP Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem.
Mir Ahmad, who was also a victim of enforced disappearance, said, “Allah has given me a second life. No one’s rights should ever again be curtailed on the soil of Bangladesh. Enforced disappearances must never return.”
He also alleged that a new law being introduced by the government would curtail the powers of the commission dealing with enforced disappearances and the National Human Rights Commission.
