Take steps to bring them back

Family members of the BNP leaders who fell victims to “forced disappearance” yesterday urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to immediately take steps for return of their near and dear ones.

"I do not like to observe the Eid without my father. Please return my father immediately," said Ridhi, daughter of missing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Parvez Hossain.

Ridhi, who is around six and has little knowledge about forced disappearance, said, "My father went to the land of abduction. He has been lost… I will find him out from abroad."

Parvez has been missing since December 2013.

Besides Ridhi, family members of four other missing leaders also spoke at a discussion marking the UN's International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).

The BNP organised the programme to mark the day and put the blame on the members of the law-enforcement agencies for the abduction.

When Ridhi was expressing her feelings about her missing father, a heartbreaking atmosphere was created in the hall room. All of the speakers urged the government high-ups including the prime minister to take an initiative for the return of the missing members of their families.

"The mental situation of the family members is very undesirable. We cannot maintain our regular life properly because of our missing family members. We don't know how we would observe the upcoming Eid," said Afroza Islam Ankhi, elder sister of Sajedul Islam Suman, who was abducted from Bashundhara residential area on December 4, 2013.

Anisur Rahman, former JCD leader who was allegedly abducted for three months, said it is tough to describe how miserable days he passed at that time.

He said it is necessary to stand united to trace other abducted leaders. The former JCD leader vowed to stay in the movement to find out the abducted persons.

BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed said people have recently become victims to extremism, militancy, murders and enforced disappearances as an “unaccountable” government is running the country.

“If BNP comes to power, people will not fall victim to murders and enforced disappearances,” Moudud said, adding, “They will not have to remain in jail without trial.”

Moudud also criticised his party for not being able to form a movement against the government even though the recent killings are upsetting the people.

Contacted, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told The Daily Star that more than 300 party leaders became victims of enforced disappearance between 2013 and 2016.