‘Form credible probe commission’
Rights activists, politicians and social workers yesterday in a protest meeting demanded a credible investigative commission for incidents of disappearance.
"We have hundreds of proofs in favour of the claims by families of the disappeared, that law enforcers have been behind these incidents, but nobody listened," said Nur Khan Liton, secretary-general of rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra.
Political party Nagorik Oikko organised the protest meeting.
"We have limitations, and we can't tell all the truth. But political parties can. All parties must unite on this issue," said Nur Khan.
"I hope all parties, including the ruling Awami League, will join this demand for justice," he said.
In another incident, law enforcers talked to the father of the disappeared. They said they needed to talk to his son. They then took the son away and he never returned.
Nur Khan also discussed some incidents where proofs stand against law enforcers. During the pre-election period in 2013, eight youths disappeared in one night, he mentioned.
"On that night, the mechanics working in Nakhalpara area mentioned which type of cars went there, where they were parked and the people who took the ones who disappeared."
"In another incident, law enforcers talked to the father of the disappeared. They said they needed to talk to his son. They then took the son away and he never returned," said Nur.
"In another incident, Rab came to a victim's house and took his mobile phone, while his father was at the police station filing a GD regarding his son going missing. How did they know about the victim before the GD was filed?"
He also said there should be a platform where people can present the proof supporting the claims against law enforcers in such incidents.
Afroza Akter of Mayer Daak -- an organisation of the victims' families -- said the families were made to file general diaries (GDs) or mention in case statements that the victims went "missing" or "never returned" or "were picked up by unidentified people" instead of filing legitimate cases.
Speakers condemned the harassment and coercion the families faced. Law enforcers had allegedly made them sign pre-written statements that said the families deliberately misled police by concealing information.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna, convener of Nagorik Oikko, said victims of disappearances did not go missing by themselves."The government used law enforcers in these incidences of forced disappearance." Subrata Chowdhury of Gonoforum, and SM Akram, advisor of Nagorik Oikko, also spoke at the event among others.
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