UN rights chief's statement backs our claim: BNP

BNP Secetary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet's statement on enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings proves the party's claim in this regard. 

He also demanded that an independent investigation be launched under the supervision of the UN over the incidents of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the cointry.

Fakhrul was addressing a media call at the party chief's Gulshan office in Dhaka on Thursday.

"UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has rightly suggested independently probing the disappearances and killings. She also demanded action and trial against those responsible," he said.

Bachelet, he said, also mentioned about the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

"Their investigation has found that RAB did it all," he claimed.

About the meeting with the visiting UN representatives, the BNP leader said, "We said that we want an independent investigation under the United Nations and unearth what had happened.

"Whoever is behind the criminal acts, should be brought to justice," he added.

He went on saying that around 600 political leaders and activists, people from civil society and labour leaders were victims of enforced disappearances.

When asked about ruling party leaders' statements that most of the BNP's statements on enforced disappearances are political, Fakhrul said, "It is natural that they would not acknowledge it."

Without naming Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader's statement that the UN has no jurisdiction to investigate any internal issue in Bangladesh, Fakhrul said, "It seems that such incidents took place in the country. You (journalists) must have listened to the statements of the police officers. Netra News report proved that the whole state is involved with this crime."

The BNP leader said there is no atmosphere of holding talks in the country and it would not materialise till the party Chairperson Khaleda Zia is released and cases filed against her are withdrawn.

He also said dialogue with the ruling party will not be possible till the government steps down from the office and dissolve the parliament.