Over 300 people from all walks of life have been victims of enforced disappearances since 2007.
It is a matter of grave concern for all citizens that so many abductions and enforced disappearances can take place in our country. Whether carried out for the purposes of extortion or other criminality, or to stifle political competition, there must be zero tolerance for this appalling activity.
According to Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), the number of disappearances is rising, with 74 people falling victim in the first six months of this year. Of these, 39 people have been traced, with 23 of them being found dead.
It is especially concerning when kidnapping and violence is used for political purposes or as an instrument to suppress human rights activists from voicing their concerns. Any allegations of people being abducted into secret detention by law enforcers must be fully investigated, but unfortunately this has not always been the case.
While high-profile incidents this year have seen some follow-up action, with for example the arrest of some RAB members following the Narayanganj-7 murders, the government must do more to reassure the public.
It is the state’s foremost duty to protect all citizens. The government has a fundamental duty to prevent enforced disappearances and act to bring as many victims as possible safely home to their families.
Any persons or groups implicated in disappearances, for whatever reason or purpose, must be apprehended and brought to justice.
