Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said, “If the people give their mandate, BNP is committed to enacting and enforcing laws to eradicate the culture of enforced disappearances.”

He made this pledge on Friday evening while addressing as chief guest an event titled “Repression to Revolution: Exposing Systematic Human Rights Violations by the State” held at the Abdul Karim Auditorium of the Bangla Academy. The programme was organised by Mayer Dak (Mother’s Call).

Salahuddin Ahmed said, “My photo was supposed to be here today, but by sheer luck, I am alive and standing here. The place that Netra News named the ‘Aynaghar’ had no mirrors—it was a chamber of death. On April 14, 2015, after the Bengali New Year celebrations, I was taken to such a secret torture cell. The room was only 5 feet by 10 feet. My eyes would be blindfolded when taken there but inside, my eyes were left uncovered. There was a drain, a hole for urination and defecation, one tap for all needs, a thin blanket and pillow. Scorpions also entered that room.”

He said that after 61 days, he was told he would be taken to a place from which returning would take two to three days. At that moment, he requested them, if he were to die, to at least send his body back to his family.

The BNP leader further added, “We are waiting for that Bangladesh where no one will ever have to stand on the streets because their loved one has been forcibly disappeared.”

Citing information from United Nations Human Rights Commission, he noted that during the 2024 student uprising, more than 1,400 students were killed and over 20,000 were injured, with many left disabled or blind.

From 2009 to 2023, different organisations reported 709 cases of enforced disappearances. However, according to rights activist Nur Khan Liton, the latest report from the Disappearance Commission places the figure at 1,850 people.

Salahuddin alleged, “Many facts about disappearances were never revealed. Even the complaint filed by my wife at the police station was not accepted. Because of the prevailing environment, the real number was never known.”

On the issue of elections, the BNP leader said that for the past 16 years people have been struggling to regain their right to vote. He urged political parties not to create confusion around the elections. In his view, the publication of the election roadmap has paved the way for fulfilling the nation’s expectations.

It is worth noting that Saturday (August 30) marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Since 2011, this day has been observed globally under a UN resolution. Enforced disappearances, often carried out by state security forces, are particularly common under authoritarian regimes and in conflict-ridden regions.

Families of the victims are left without any information on their loved ones’ whereabouts and are deprived of their right to justice.