PM seeks justice for missing
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for international unity to ensure accountability for those responsible for enforced disappearances, saying more than 700 people went missing during the country’s previous regime in what he described as a grave violation of human rights.
Tarique made the call in a message issued on Saturday (29 August), ahead of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on Saturday.
Describing enforced disappearance as one of the “most heinous and gruesome acts”, Tarique said it was a global problem and an extreme violation of human rights, particularly under authoritarian governments.
“State security forces and law enforcement agencies, most of the time, preferred such brutal and ruthless path against the dissidents to clamp down anti-government movements,” he said.
Referring to the government ousted following the mass uprising in 2024, Tarique alleged that it had used enforced disappearances and abductions against dissidents, holding many people for months or even years at secret detention facilities known as ‘Ainaghar’.
Citing figures from local and international human rights organisations, he said law enforcement agencies had disappeared more than 700 people at different times during the previous regime.
Tarique said the government had begun prosecuting those responsible after investigating individual cases and was preparing a legal framework to prevent enforced disappearances in the future.
“The Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Bill, 2026 and the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026 were placed in Parliament,” he said.
The government hopes the proposed legislation, if enacted, will ensure that “nobody would do such heinous crimes”, he added.
Recalling the 2024 uprising, Tarique said some victims had returned after the previous government was removed, but many remained missing.
He cited BNP leader Elias Ali and Chowdhury Alam among those whose whereabouts were still unknown.
Enforced disappearance has been a longstanding human rights concern in Bangladesh, with rights groups and families of missing people repeatedly demanding investigations and accountability.
Tarique also referred to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, saying Article 7(2)(i) recognises “enforced disappearance of persons” as a crime against humanity and emphasises the need for exemplary punishment for those responsible.
He urged the international community to strengthen solidarity with victims and their families and support efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.
The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is observed worldwide to raise awareness of the practice and reinforce calls for accountability and protection of victims.
This year’s theme is “Victims First, Actions Now”.
