When Abdul Quader Bhuiyan went missing, he was a third year (hons.) student at Government Titumir College in Dhaka. Since then a decade has gone by. His mother Ayesha Ali is still waiting for her son to turn up.
Her voice choked up as she spoke. Introducing herself, she said, “Now I’m known as the mother of a son who is a victim of enforced disappearance. Already 10 years have elapsed but my son has not returned home. How long do I have to wait to hear my son call me 'mother'?”
Wednesday (30 August) marked the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Ayesha Ali attended a programme of Mayer Daak, a forum of the families of the victims of enforced disappearances, organised to mark the day.
Ayesha Ali broke into tears while speaking about her son. At a stage of talking she started bleeding from mouth. She said, “It’s not possible to make explain how painful it is for a mother if her child does not return home after going out on an errand.”
Some people identifying themselves as law enforcement agency members picked up eight people including Sajedul Islam alias Sumon, general secretary of War No. 38 of Tejgaon Thana unit BNP in Dhaka, from the capital’s Bashundhara residential area on 4 December 2013. Abdul Quader was one among the eight people.
Relatives of people, who are victims of enforced disappearance, attended the programme Mayer Daak organised at Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) in Kakrail in the capital. Noted persons also addressed the programme extending their solidarity with the organisers and the families of the victims.
Rights activist, professor CR Abrar at the programme said, “The children who have joined the programme here said they want to go to school holding the hands of their fathers. Will their father ever go to buy new books along with them? Will they buy new clothes for them during the Eid? Who would respond to these questions? There is the state, different law enforcement agencies and politicians and the ruling party. But none are answering the questions.”
Speaking at the programme professor Asif Nazrul of the law department at Dhaka University said many parents are asking why their children were victims of enforced disappearance. Many children are also asking the same question about their fathers. Basically such incidents of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing are done to spread fear among dissidents and stifle their voices. This are done to stay in power illegaly. ways.
He further said it was not possible as of now to hold accountable the people who were involved with inhuman activities like enforced disappearance.
Md Nur Khan, executive director of rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), demanded bringing the perpetrators to book. He said those who are involved with enforced disappearances have to be brought to book by identifying them through unbiased investigation.
President of Nagorik Oikya, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, however, said the trial of enforced disappearances and murders won’t take place as long as the incumbent government remains in power. “This government is heartless,” he remarked.
According to Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of the Ganasanghati Andolan, said enforced disappearance, murder, torture, and garb of different laws are the ways for this government to keep people in a constant state of fear to continue its rule.
‘Pray so that I can see my son once before die’
BNP leader Sajedul Islam has not returned home since some people identifying them as law enforcement agency members picked him up from the capital’s Bashundhara residential area on 4 December, 2013.
Sajedul’s mother Hazera Khatun was present at the programme. “Everyone please pray for me so that I can meet my son at least once before I die.”
Wife of Barishal unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Firoz Khan, who went missing in 2012, Amena Akhter also attended the programme. She said Firoz Khan and his brother Miraz Khan went missing within a span of three months. Since then no one knows their whereabouts.
Amena said following her husband’s disappearance she went to Pirozpur from Barishal over security issues. Since then she has been staying there with her only child and earning livelihood by sewing clothes.
‘Whenever I hear a motorcycle, I assume he has returned’
Khaled Hasan alias Sohel, JCD president of Dhaka South City Corporation’s ward no. 43 has been missing for a decade. People identifying them as law enforcement members picked him up from Dhaka central jail area on 27 November, 2013, alleged his wife Sharmin Sultana. “Sohel had a motorcycle. Whenever I hear a motorcycle suddenly at night, I think, maybe Sohel has returned. But he doesn’t return. I don’t even know whether he is dead or alive.”
Sharmin Sultana further said, “I’m known as the wife of Sohel who is a victim of enforced disappearance. My son is a son of Sohel who is a victim of enforced disappearance. My only demand is, give back my husband to us.”
‘Just want to touch my brother once’
Ward councillor and BNP leader Chowdhury Alam went missing from the Indira Road area in the capital on 25 June, 2010. Speaking at the programme, his brother Khorshed Alam said, “I don’t know why my brother has been missing for the last 13 years. I won’t seek justice for this, I won’t even lodge any suit and won’t protest at this. I just want the body of my brother back. I only hope to touch my brother once and bury him myself.”
Extending solidarity with the organisers and victims, Biplobi Workers’ Party general secretary Saiful Haque, Jatiya Samajtantrik Nari Jote convener Tania Rob, BNP’s human rights affairs secretary Asaduzzaman, central executive committee member Tabith Awal, Gono Odhikar Parishad president Nurul Haque, and Hill Students Parishad general secretary Amal Tripura also addressed the programme.
As a victim, Hummam Quader Chowdhury, son of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, who was executed for crimes committed against humanity in 1971, also addressed the programme.
Demand for independent investigation commission
A demand for formation of an independent investigation commission was raised in the programme. It was also said, “Mayer Daak demands returning the victims of enforced disappearances to their family members and stopping this practice of enforced disappearance. It is being asked to stop harassing the families of the victims and bringing the perpetrators to book.”
Mayer Daak also demanded the concerned authorities to ensure independent and unbiased investigation into every allegation of enforced disappearances following international law and ensure justice to the victims.
It also asked the authorities to allow the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to visit Bangladesh.