Marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) accused the government of backtracking on the promises for which the July uprising was fought.
The discussion, titled “Can You Hear?”, followed by a screening of the disappearance-themed film “Joar,” was held at the university’s RC Majumder Auditorium.
DUCSU Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem, who chaired the event, said the greatest gain of the July uprising was the return of many people who had been forcibly disappeared.
“But the government now in power is moving in a direction opposite to the Bangladesh we dreamed of after the July uprising,” he said.
“Through its student organization’s imposition of terror on campuses, it is essentially moving to relaunch the arrangements of the earlier fascist regime.”
Human rights activist and Drik Art Gallery founder Shahidul Alam spoke of the fear that history could repeat itself.
“May the horrifying time we lived through never return,” he said.
“After the July uprising, we thought the culture of disappearance and killing would never come back. But this government’s indifference terrifies us.”
He also spoke about his own experience of torture under the ousted government.
Nur Khan Liton, a human rights advocate and former head of Ain o Salish Kendra, said enforced disappearances could not be viewed as isolated incidents.
“Disappearances were carried out through the coordination of the entire state machinery,” he said.
He called on the government to ensure trials for enforced disappearances and other crimes against humanity committed during what he described as the fascist period.
Mohammad Tajul Islam, who until recently served as chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, also addressed the gathering.
Among the speakers was Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, MP for Dhaka-14 and a survivor of enforced disappearance under the previous regime.
He recounted his ordeal and called on the government to locate and return everyone who remains missing.
Nousheen Sharmila Ritu, a PhD researcher at the University of Warwick and former Oxford student, spoke about human rights and the scale of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh.
DUCSU Assistant General Secretary Md Muhiuddin Khan highlighted the mental health challenges faced by people who have returned after being disappeared.
He also criticized what he described as the government’s efforts to take the country back to the old system.
“The government is continuing its effort to take the country back to the old system, which is suicidal. If the government keeps this up, the people will give their answer too,” he said.
DUCSU executive member Md Shahinur Rahman, in his welcome remarks, raised concerns over bureaucratic hurdles faced by the families of victims and alleged that the government had failed to follow up with them.
Also present were DUCSU General Secretary S M Farhad and executive members Md Mazharul Islam, Arman Hossain, Iqbal Haider, Md Raisul Islam and Md Miftahul Hussain Al Maruf.
Fatima Tasnim Juma, DUCSU secretary for Liberation War and Democratic Movement Affairs, moderated the session.
Families of victims who remain missing also spoke at the event.
Abdul Halim, father of Al-Muqaddas, a former Islamic University student who disappeared and remains unaccounted for, renewed his appeal to the government to find his son.
Motiur Rahman, elder brother of Zaker Hussain, who was disappeared by state forces, said: “Even if it’s my brother’s dead body, we want him returned. This wait is no longer bearable.”
Ripon Hossain, brother of Rezwan Hossain, who also disappeared, made an emotional appeal to the government to bring his brother home.
