Distinctive legal framework being formulated to stop enforced disappearances: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that the government is formulating a distinctive legal framework to stop enforced disappearances. He also said that the 'Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Bill, 2026' and the 'National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026' have already been placed in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament).

The Prime Minister made these remarks in a message issued on Saturday night on the occasion of the International Day against Enforced Disappearances.

The Prime Minister said, "The incumbent government has initiated investigations and judicial proceedings into every incident of enforced disappearance. At the same time, it is formulating a separate legal framework to prevent 'enforced disappearance' in the future. The 'Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Bill, 2026' and the 'National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026' have already been tabled in Parliament."

He said, "The government hopes that once the tabled bills are enacted into law through due process, no one will choose the path of heinous crimes against humanity like enforced disappearance or abduction in the future."

Describing enforced disappearance and abduction as the death of a family's dreams, aspirations, and hopes, the Prime Minister said, "Enforced disappearance or abduction is not just a number or the loss of an individual; rather, it is the death of a family's dreams, aspirations, and hopes. It is a future that comes to a standstill for a family. The loved ones waiting for those who have disappeared spend their days in an uncertain reality, where there is no closure, no normal opportunity to mourn."

He further said, "Following the long anti-fascist movement and struggle, after the fall of the fascist clique in the mass uprising of heroic students and the masses in 2024, some fortunate ones have returned. However, the whereabouts of countless people like Elias Ali or Chowdhury Alam are still unknown."
Highlighting the significance of observing the International Day against Enforced Disappearances, the Prime Minister said, "The International Day against Enforced Disappearances is observed around the world to keep the global conscience awakened against enforced disappearance by the state or government. I call for global unity and solidarity for the trial and accountability of individuals and institutions involved in this inhuman crime."

Expressing deep sympathy and solidarity with all victims of enforced disappearance and their family members in Bangladesh and around the world, the Prime Minister said in his message, "Among the worst crimes in the world, the most heinous is enforced disappearance. It is a global problem and the most extreme violation of human rights. Such inhuman incidents occur especially in authoritarian systems and politically conflicted regions of the world. State security forces or law enforcement agencies often choose this cruel, merciless, and brutal path against anti-government movements or political leaders with dissenting views."

Regarding Bangladesh, the Tarique Rahman said, "The fallen, defeated, and fugitive fascist government of Bangladesh chose the inhuman path of abduction and enforced disappearance to suppress the democratic and political rights of the people. They created secret detention centres to hold victims of enforced disappearance for months or even years. These secret prisons of the fugitive fascist era became known in public as 'Aynaghars' (mirror rooms). According to accounts from domestic and international human rights organizations, the ousted fascist government, using the country's law enforcement agencies, enforced the disappearance of at least seven hundred people at various times. This is deeply painful and heartbreaking."