The country did not stop observing the Human Rights Day every year after rights activist Kalpana Chakma disappeared 17 years ago; but there has been little progress in investigation into the alleged abduction.
Police, who were supposed to file a fresh investigation report yesterday, sought more time from the Rangamati Judicial Court. The court which set yesterday for report submission, extended the deadline until January 23.
Kalpana, an indigenous and women’s rights activist, was allegedly abducted by a group of law enforcers, led by an army personnel of the lieutenant rank, on June 12, 1996 – the day the 7th parliamentary elections were held.
Kalpana was reportedly campaigning in favour of Bijoy Ketan Chakma, then senior presidium member of the Pahari Gana Parisad and an independent candidate in the 1996 elections.
Bijoy told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday: “Kalpana was one of the few women at that time who was vocal about indigenous rights. The abduction could have been an attempt to thwart the heated situation before the peace accord was signed.”
The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord is a political agreement signed between the government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (United People’s Party of the Chittagong Hill Tracts) in 1997 that ended decades-long struggle between the Shanti Bahini – an insurgent group, who fought for the rights of ethnic minorities – and the government forces.
Over the last 17 years, there has never been any concrete information available about the army lieutenant, whom Kalpana’s close associates have linked with the alleged abduction.
So far, three reports – two final reports including one from CID and one from a judicial inquiry commission – have been placed before the court. None of those reports mentioned names of any accused.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police concluded investigation 16 years after the alleged abduction. The court rejected the report saying it did not identify the abductors and lacked information about Kalpana’s whereabouts.
On January 16 this year, the court appointed Rangamati Police Super Amena Begum for reinvestigating the incident. Yesterday, Amena failed to submit the investigation report and prayed for more time.
Without specifying why it was taking such a long time, Amena told the Dhaka Tribune that she needed more time to finish investigation.
On April 24, Amena filed a petition with the court praying for giving the investigation duty back to the CID and involving the additional superintendent of police. The court, however, did not entertain the prayer and ordered her to proceed with her duty.
Kalpana’s brother Kalindi Kumar Chakma, who claimed to be a witness of the alleged abduction, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It seems they [law enforcers] are playing a game with us. I am frustrated. All I can do now is call upon the conscious people of the country who believe in humanity to help me ensure justice for my sister, whom we lost 17 years ago.”
The slow pace of investigation has recently triggered a global campaign for ensuring justice for Kalpana and her family.
On November 13, Amnesty International started a campaign titled “Write for Rights” on and requested solidarity letters for Kalindi. Till date, Amnesty received a total of 150 letters from around the world.
This year’s theme for the Human Rights Day is “20 Years Working for Your Rights.”
