New dept underway for victims of enforced disappearance, murder, torture
PID photo.
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has taken an initiative to establish a new department for individuals who have been victims of enforced disappearance, murder, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
A meeting was held on Sunday at the ministry's conference room to review the matter in detail. The inter-ministerial meeting was called to discuss the proposal for forming this department under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
According to meeting sources, the department's work will include ensuring the welfare, proper medical treatment, and legal protection for affected families, as well as arranging for their rehabilitation.
The meeting was chaired by Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan and was attended by State Minister Israque Hossain and Ministry Secretary Md. Ashraful Islam.
The Liberation War Affairs Minister stated that the state has already recognized those affected by the July Mass Uprising, for which the "July Mass Uprising Department" has been established. Similarly, the state wants to formally recognize those who have made immense sacrifices through long struggles to restore democracy. He said an initiative has been taken to acknowledge the sacrifices of those who were subjected to enforced disappearance, brutally murdered, or fell victim to extrajudicial killings and never returned to their families, those who lost their eyesight, became disabled, or spent years in prison after being impoverished by hundreds of false cases.
State Minister Israque Hossain said that the core spirit of the great Liberation War of 1971 was that people would live freely, human rights would be protected, state coercion would end, and a democratic state system would be established through direct suffrage.
The State Minister alleged that after 2009, that fundamental spirit of the Liberation War was trampled upon through the deprivation of voting rights, state-sponsored enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. According to Israque, this initiative is being taken out of a sense of responsibility to determine what the state can do for the vast population who have given their lives, been persecuted, disappeared, and become financially destitute while striving to establish the ideals of Bangladesh's Liberation War.
The meeting held detailed discussions on the policy matter of amending the ministry's Rules of Business 1996 to bring this new responsibility under the purview of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. In this regard, three key issues were emphasized.
First, the establishment of a new department under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. Second, the enactment of timely legislation to ensure the full rights and compensation for individuals who have been victims of enforced disappearance, murder, torture, and extrajudicial killings, as well as for their families. Third, the formal inclusion of this related responsibility within the functions of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs by amending the Rules of Business 1996.
The meeting was attended by senior officials and representatives from various concerned ministries and departments, including the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Social Welfare, Health Services Division, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.
