11-Party Alliance Announces March Toward Parliament Over Enforced Disappearances

DHAKA:

An 11-party political alliance has announced a march toward Bangladesh’s National Parliament, with families of people who allegedly became victims of enforced disappearance expected to take part in the demonstration.

The alliance said the programme would be held on Sunday, August 30, at 3:00 p.m., as part of events marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

The announcement was made on Wednesday at a press conference held at the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition on Minto Road in Dhaka. Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad announced the programme on behalf of the alliance.

Azad said a number of people had allegedly been subjected to enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing in Bangladesh in the past, but that justice had yet to be delivered in many of those cases.

Against this backdrop, the alliance plans to organise the march, bringing together family members of people who have allegedly been subjected to enforced disappearance, he said.

“The 11-party alliance will march toward the National Parliament at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 30, with family members of victims of enforced disappearance,” Azad said.

The organisers said the demonstration would seek to highlight the demands of families who have spent years seeking information about missing relatives and calling for investigations and accountability.

The event comes amid continuing political and human rights debates in Bangladesh over allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Families of missing people have repeatedly called for information about the whereabouts of their relatives, independent investigations and justice for those responsible.

Also present at Wednesday’s press conference were National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, along with leaders of the 11-party alliance.

Alliance leaders said families affected by enforced disappearances have a right to justice and accountability. They also stressed the need for credible investigations into past cases and for those found responsible to be brought to justice.

The planned march is expected to serve as a political platform for the alliance to raise the issue of enforced disappearances and press for greater accountability over allegations involving missing and allegedly unlawfully detained individuals.

The programme is being organised in connection with the observance of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, which is marked annually on August 30.