Forced Disappearance: It takes place in other countries as well: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament yesterday said cases of forced disappearances were being recorded in developed countries too, not just Bangladesh.
“There is no way of denying that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure security of the people,” she said, adding that people were disappearing in different ways and many of them have returned on their own.
The leader of the House alleged that people disappearing gets wide media coverage but their return or rescue does not get much attention.
“Many have been raising voices after every incident of forced disappearance. Why is it happening and where is it taking place? Are these happening in Bangladesh only?” she said.
Referring to stats of 2009, she said some 2.75 lakh Britons were subjected to forced disappearances while some 20,000 were still missing.
“When it comes to America, the situation is dreadful,” she said.
Hasina said her government is trying to serve the 16 crore people and is working on improving their socio-economic condition.
“How many people live in those countries? Those countries also have modern technologies. Yet, many people disappear. Why?” she said.
The PM said her government was trying to keep the situation under control. “Whenever such an incident takes place, we look into the matter to trace them.”
Without mentioning the name of Farhad Mazhar, who went missing a few months ago, Hasina said the intellectual went into “self-disappearance” and later he was found loitering at the New Market in Khulna.
“Are we responsible for such incidents? Such things happen often,” she said.
She said people would not vote for those who had been involved in arson attacks and burning people to death.
“I have full confidence in the people that they will not cast votes to pave the way for recurring incidents of violence and burning people to death,” she said.
“As long as my party is in power, we shall continue to work for the betterment of the people,” she said.
Pointing to coal-based power plant at Rampal near the Sundarbans, the PM said it would not damage the environment as it would be based on modern technology.
She said less modern coal-based power plant in Dinajpur did not harm the environment, and crops and vegetables were being grown there.
“There are some people who always speak against any good initiative due to their business interest … ,” she said.
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