BNP following AL’s path on disappearance bill
National Citizen Party (NCP) Central Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of following the path of the Awami League in dealing with the ordinance on enforced disappearances.
Sarjis said there had been expectations that the BNP would further reform, scrutinise and strengthen the relevant laws before implementing them in the public interest, he said on Thursday while responding to questions from journalists after an organisational coordination meeting of the NCP at a hotel in Feni city.
“But the way the ordinance on enforced disappearances was introduced recently, it is similar to, or even weaker than, the law on enforced disappearances during the Awami League government,” he said, adding that the ordinance was scheduled to be placed before parliament on Thursday.
Referring to the BNP’s 31-point reform proposal, Sarjis alleged that the party was bringing back several previous structures instead of introducing meaningful reforms.
He particularly criticised provisions under which complaints and investigations involving enforced disappearances would remain with agencies whose members are themselves accused of such acts.
“How can the same law enforcement agencies whose members are accused of enforced disappearances be responsible for filing cases, receiving complaints and conducting investigations? There can hardly be a greater farce,” he said.
Sarjis alleged that the BNP was attempting to return to the previous system and claimed that its long-standing promises and 31-point reform agenda remained largely “words on paper” without practical implementation.
He also criticised the BNP over parliamentary standing committees, saying the July Charter provides for the opposition to chair 13 parliamentary standing committees, but the BNP has not granted them those positions.
He alleged that the BNP was creating “traps” and later using the opposition’s response as an excuse.
On the presidential election, Sarjis said the BNP had an opportunity to reflect Article 70 of the Constitution in the process in line with the July Charter, but did not do so. He also criticised the party for questioning the opposition after it participated in the process to maintain democratic procedures.
“They are creating a situation where you are blamed whether you participate or not,” he said.
Regarding the NCP’s participation in upcoming local government elections, Sarjis said the party was currently preparing to contest independently.
“We are preparing to contest the elections on our own. Candidates will be announced independently,” he said.
He acknowledged that the party might not receive the expected number of votes in some areas but said the NCP would seek to put up strong competition.
Several senior NCP leaders, including Central Joint Conveners Sarwar Tushar and Ali Ahsan Junaid, Joint Member Secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat, Feni district convener Zahidul Islam Saikat and Member Secretary Shah Wali Ullah Manik, were present at the meeting.
