'Try them if they're criminals, but return them to us'

 

Live Correspondent: "If our beloved ones are criminals, try them. But, return them to us. How long we'll wait for them? We don't know whether they're alive or dead. If they're dead, please return their bodies so that we can bury them. Then we'll pray to the almighty Allah for their departed souls."

Family members of the victims of enforced disappearances were narrating their ordeals and pains coming from different parts of the country.

They were assembled at Shahbagh in the capital on early Tuesday (August 30) afternoon. The relatives of the victims of enforced disappearances were narrating their ordeals in a human chain formed there. The human chain was formed in observance of the 'International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances 2022.'

Apart from the family members of the victims of enforced disappearances, the human chain was addressed by Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, BNP central committee member Tabith Awal and DUCSU's former VP Nurul Huq Nur.

The human chain was organized by 'Mayer Daak and presided over by Afroza Islam Ankhi, coordinator of the organization.

Speakers at the human chain demanded of the government to form an independent and neutral commission for a fair investigation into the disappearance of the victims at different times.

The human chain was addressed by Rehana Banu Munni, sister of Sutrapur Chhatra Dal's former president Selim Reza Pintu.

She said, "I want to get back to my brother. If he had committed any crime, please try him. But, the state has no right to abduct and keep him confined in a secret location. If he is a criminal, please try him, but return him to us."

Anisa Hossain said her father Ismail Hossain Baten was picked up by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) when he was returning home from his business establishment on June 19, 2019. "I've not received any information about my father though three years and three months have passed since the abduction of my father by law enforcers. We went to all the places including the Prime Minister's office and Home Ministry with prayers.

As it was an allegation against the RAB, Police Commissioner didn't feel the necessity of reading my prayer. Prime Minister! I intend to ask you, "Won't I find my father in this independent country? Won't they be tried who had picked up my father?"

On the night of August 9, 2016, Barrister Arman Huq was picked up by some plain-clothed men from a flat at DOHS in Mirpur of the capital. Enforced disappearance victim Arman's mother, wife, and other relatives attended the human chain.

Arman Huq's mother Ayesha Khatun said, "Members of different law enforcement agencies come to my house each month. Children have become scared of them and they don't want to stay at home. They also can't study. Arman's two daughters are 9-year-old and 10-year-old. They often see bad dreams. In their dreams, they see that they are thrown on roads, or abducted, and beaten somewhere else. They have been living in such psychological trauma. Police often come to my home and ask me where is your son. But, I try to tell them again and again that you know where he is now. Instead, they want to know the whereabouts of my son from me. My only demand is that I want to get back my son."

At the human chain, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, "Those who are now in power, they have been caught in a trap. Nobody believes them at home and abroad. It has internationally been said that the Western powers won't accept the next government without a participatory and acceptable general election. Because of it, they have been insisting on a bright BNP for the election. So, I must say that the situation will not remain the same forever."

Human rights activist Noor Khan Liton said those who have returned after being the victims of enforced disappearances, are now reluctant to utter a single word because of the threats and intimidation. "Now, we demand of the government to form an independent inquiry commission and identify those who were involved in such heinous crimes. The personnel of the agencies involved in the crimes must be identified and punished."

CSU's former VP Nurul Huq Nur said, "Members of the cabinet are liars. If the crying of the little children for their fathers here could be sent to the Awami League leaders and activists, we did not have to form a human chain from Press Club to Shahbagh being soaked in rain."

The human chain was also attended by family members and relatives of more than 50 victims of enforced disappearances. They included Ayesha Ali, mother of the 3rd year student of Govt Titumir College Abdul Kader Masum, from Nakhalpara in the capital, Kaniz Fatema Rita, sister of Sutrapur Jubo Dal organizing secretary Samrat Molla, Sadia Shammi Sultana, sister of Sutrapur Jubo Dal president Khaled Hasan Sohel, Shirin Akter, mother of Ismail Hossain Alamin, Lamia Akter Mim, daughter of Kawsar Hossain.

Dhaka, 30 August(campuslive24.com)//BIT

---

---