Peace And Justice Alliance a civil rights organization has jointly organized an program on “International day of Victims Enforced Disappearance : Bangladesh Perspective” on August 30, 2021, The Canadian Human Rights International Organization was also partner in the program, in the webinar many international organization and country representatives were attended and speck on the subject.
Speakers has briefed about Enforced disappearance has become a global problem and is not restricted to a specific region of the world. Once largely the product of military dictatorships, enforced disappearances can nowadays be perpetrated in complex situations of internal conflict, especially as a means of political repression of opponents; Enforced disappearance is a relatively new addition to state crime. Enforced disappearances persist in many countries all over the world, having been a continuing feature of the second half of the twentieth century since they were committed on a gross scale in Nazi-occupied Europe.
After the expansion of this offence in December 2006, the UN has adopted the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The Convention entered into force on 23 December, 2010. To date, 90 states have become signatories, and 30 have ratified the Convention.
The state party is not fulfilling its obligations under the Convention. Very few states have implemented the Convention into national law. The convention aims to prevent enforced disappearances taking place, uncover the truth when they do occur, punish the perpetrators and provide reparations to the victims and their families. The Convention delivers a definition of the crime of enforced disappearance and necessary state action in order to both prevent the occurrence of the crime and to allow for the investigation and prosecution of the culprits.
The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, on August 30 of each year, is a day created to draw attention to the fate of individuals imprisoned at secret places and under poor conditions unknown to their relatives and/or legal representatives, Since its inception in 1980, the UN Working Group on Enforced disappearance has transmitted a total of 58,606 cases to 109 States. The number of cases under active consideration that have not yet been clarified, closed or discontinued stands at 46,271 in a total of 92 States. During the reporting period, 205 cases were clarified. At present about 75 million people has been displaced their home for own country internal conflict, crisis and political unrest.
In Bangladesh, Arbitrary arrest, custodial death, extra judicial killings and enforced disappearance are the tools of state repression, which has frequently been used by Bangladesh present regime to silence dissenting voices. The government is cracking down on political dissidents and opposition activists.
Arbitrary arrest, custodial death, extra judicial killings and enforced disappearance is qualified as a crime against humanity “when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack,” under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It violates the “rights to life, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of religion or belief, and freedom of association”.
Since 2009, Bangladesh present dictator regime to stop critics & opposition also keep power unlimited time without people mandate has been patronizing bribery & mass corruption, money laundering & transferred billions of dollars to foreign countries, also doing extra judicial killing, enforced disappearances, illegal imprison, against critics & opposition also criminalized justice & administration sectors. Bangladeshi people has observed stolen elections in 2014 & 2018 without voters, there is huge allegations of vote rigging, now to control opposition & critics fascist government has been misusing controversial laws (digital security act) & using spyware, surveillance tools & CC Camera whole over the country, prison has become overcrowded.
According to local sources, In Bangladesh in last decade The incidents of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances turned epidemic. It needs to be mention that about 3044 cases of extrajudicial killings and about 614 persons allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance happened in Bangladesh during 2009 to 2021; While some were eventually released, shown arrested, or discovered killed by security forces and law-enforcement agencies in so-called “crossfire” encounters, the whereabouts of many of them remain unknown. Victims of torture and extrajudicial killings and many have been missing for years.
In Bangladesh, It is often alleged that the police do not allow the arrested person to meet with the lawyer and relatives after the arrest. There are also reports that several days of detention have elapsed since the police tortured him into custody without making a formal arrest. The disappearance and murder by the law enforcement agencies is now almost over. At present in Bangladesh the constitution and the system of governance are in conflict and when the constitution loses its effectiveness, and then the citizen of the country become distrustful of the law. In last decade in Bangladesh gross human rights violation and abuse of power have created a terrible “environment of fear” and “culture of impunity”. Senior government officials have in the past denied that security agencies had taken anyone, saying the alleged victims had gone into hiding.
The Victims, their family members, and witnesses to enforced disappearances, finds that Bangladesh authorities consistently refuse to investigate enforced disappearances and to hold those responsible accountable.
The speakers and participates has recommends the followings:
- Bangladesh authority needs end the “environment of fear” and “culture of impunity” and respect universal declaration of human rights and Bangladesh Constitution;
- UN and other UN member’s states, civil rights group and donor agencies needs to launch international tribunal and investigation against Bangladesh regimes continuous crime against humanity, UN needs to ban Bangladesh forces who has been involved in enforced disappearance, custodial death, inhuman torture and human rights violation from UN Peace Keeping mission.
- Vulnerable and victim people of Bangladesh urging urgent International community intervention & solidarity to restore democracy, social justice & human rights in Bangladesh for all;
- The United States, UK, Canada, the EU, and other governments with similar human rights sanctions regimes should impose targeted sanctions on Bangladesh ruling party leaders and Government officials with responsibility for ongoing enforced disappearances, human rights violators and other grave abuses of power;
- To avoid any future conflict and crisis fragile states task force, UN & International community, Forum, Bodies (under the Multilateral & Transatlantic co-operation policy) global leader & rights group needs to work together to bring peace and stability to create an atmosphere of free, fair and neutral election in Bangladesh soon.
- Free al the victim of enforced dispenses who has been kept in the secret/dark prison in Bangladesh;
- Immediately free and provide former prime minister and mother of democracy HE Begum Khaleda Zia to get modern treatment in abroad.
- Provide all citizens human rights and social justice according to the Universal declaration of human rights and Bangladesh constitution;
- Now Free all opposition/critics from illegal imprison
In the webinar two UN member state HE Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Mr. Jester W Saydnuh, Ms Beben, Europe, Mr. Patrick of Kenya, Mr. Desmon, Malawi, Mr. A Saadu, Nigeria, Mr. Hernanedz, Dy, Director and Mr. Alvero, Peace Ambassador of CHRIO, Dr, Ritu Varma, Asst Director, Ms. K. Ladani, Asst Director, Dr. M. Mominul Haque, Director and Dr. Dr. Sirajul Haque Chowdury, Asst Director of Peace And Justice Alliance and, from among other Bangladesh community leaders Mr. Ahada Khandaker, Editor Vorar Alo, Mr. Mahbub Rob Chowhdury, Mr. Akhlaque Hossain, Mr. Mehdi Faruq, Mr. Zakari Chowhury, Mr. Ali Hussain speak in the event, many civil rights activist from different organizations from other part of the world has express their solidarity with the Bangladesh people democracy, human rights and social justice. Express their concern about the present crisis situation in Bangladesh
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