শুক্রবার, ৩০ আগস্ট ২০২৪

Statement Demanding Information on All Disappeared Persons, Including 6 Shibir Officials

Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir has issued a statement demanding effective measures to find all those who have been disappeared by law enforcement agencies during the regime of the autocratic Hasina government, including six officials of Islami Chhatrashibir.

On International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances today, Chhatrashibir's Central President Manjurul Islam and Secretary General Zahidul Islam said in a joint statement, "Two brilliant student leaders of Islamic University, Waliullah and Al Mukaddas, Hafez Zakir Hossain of Adabor in the capital, Rezwan Hossain of Benapole, Joynal Hossain of Bandarban, and Md. Kamruzzaman of Jhenaidah—these six Chhatrashibir leaders, along with many others, have been disappeared by law enforcement agencies after being arrested. Despite ongoing concerns and demands for their whereabouts from various organizations and families, the authorities have not taken any effective steps to find them. Even though some individuals returned after the formation of the interim government, our beloved brothers and many others have not returned! We are deeply concerned about this!

Exactly 12 years ago, on February 4, 2012, around midnight, Waliullah, a brilliant student of the Department of Dawah and Islamic Studies and former finance secretary of the Islami University branch of Chhatrashibir, and Al Mukaddas, a brilliant student of the Department of Fiqh and former cultural secretary of the Islami University branch of Chhatrashibir, were arrested from the Hanif Enterprise bus number 3750 while traveling from Dhaka to Kushtia. They were arrested from Nabinagar in Ashulia by people identifying themselves as law enforcement officers, yet the police have not acknowledged their arrest to this day.

On the other hand, on the night of April 2, 2013, at 4:00 AM, plainclothes law enforcement officers arrested Hafez Zakir Hossain from his residence at 19/6 Tikkapara, Ring Road, Shyamoli. Even after 11 years, the police have not provided any information on his whereabouts. Similarly, on August 4, 2016, at noon, Shibir leader Rezwan was arrested by police from Durgapur Market, adjacent to Benapole Port, by SI Nur Alam of Benapole Port Police Station, in front of numerous witnesses, including the shop owner and employees. Eight years have passed, yet the police have not provided any information about his whereabouts.

On October 23 of the same year, Chhatrashibir member Joynal Hossain was forcibly disappeared from Ward 3 in Bandarban Sadar. The following year, on April 7, 2017, Shibir activist and talented student of Siddiqiya Kamil Madrasa, Md. Kamruzzaman, was taken away by people identifying themselves as DB (Detective Branch) officers from Lebutola in Jhenaidah Sadar. Despite numerous complaints to various government and human rights organizations from their families and from the organization, no results have been achieved.

The leaders said, 'Domestic and international human rights organizations and the international community have been protesting against these inhumane and heinous acts. However, the autocratic government has not taken any effective measures. These disappearances are violations of international law and crimes against humanity. Even 20 days after the formation of the interim government, no effective steps have been taken by them either. We are deeply concerned about this!

In a democratic country, the administration must be fully accountable for protecting the human rights of its citizens. State-led disappearances are direct assaults on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. We call on the government to take clear actions against such state crimes as disappearances, and we seek the assistance of the international community and human rights organizations.’

We urge the interim government to immediately take visible and effective measures to ensure the whereabouts of all disappeared persons, including the six Shibir leaders, and to show appropriate sympathy and humane treatment to their families."