Separate legal framework being prepared to prevent enforced disappearances: PM
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said the government is formulating a separate legal framework to prevent enforced disappearances. He also said the “Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Bill, 2026” and the “National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026” have already been introduced in Parliament.
The prime minister made the remarks in a message issued Saturday night on the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
The prime minister said, “The current government has started the investigation 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 introduced in Parliament.”
He said, “The government hopes that once the bills introduced in Parliament are duly enacted into law, no one will choose the path of heinous crimes against humanity such as enforced disappearance or abduction in the future.”
Referring to enforced disappearance and abduction as the death of a family’s dreams and aspirations, the prime minister said, “Enforced disappearance or abduction is not merely a number or the disappearance of an individual. Rather it is the death of a family’s dreams and aspirations. It is a future brought to a standstill for a family. The relatives waiting for those who have disappeared spend their days in an uncertain reality where there is no closure and no normal opportunity to mourn.”
He further said, “Along the path of the long movement and struggle against fascism following the fall of the fascist circle in the mass uprising of brave students and people in 2024 some fortunate individuals have returned. Countless people like Ilias Ali and Chowdhury Alam are still missing.”
Highlighting the significance of observing the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances the prime minister said, “The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is observed around the world to awaken the global conscience against enforced disappearance by states or governments. I call for unity and solidarity around the world to ensure the trial and accountability of individuals and institutions involved in this inhumane crime.”
Expressing deep sympathy and solidarity with all disappeared persons 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 horrific is enforced disappearance. It is a global problem and an extreme violation of human rights. Such inhumane incidents occur particularly under authoritarian systems and in regions affected by political conflicts around the world. State security forces or law enforcement agencies often choose such ruthless and brutal methods against anti government movements or political leaders who hold differing views from the government.”
The prime minister said the country’s fallen defeated and fugitive fascist government had chosen the inhumane path of enforced disappearance and abduction to suppress the democratic and political rights of the people. He said it had established secret detention centers to hold victims of enforced disappearance and abduction for months or even years. These secret detention centers established during the fugitive fascist era became known in public discourse as “Aynaghar.”
According to figures from domestic and international human rights organizations the ousted fascist government used the country’s law enforcement agencies to make at least more than 700 people disappear at different times. This is extremely poignant and heartbreaking.
