Zia introduced enforced disappearance in country: Parash

BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman and his associates introduced the “culture of enforced disappearance” in the country, said Awami Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, claiming himself to be its witness.

He was addressing a programme marking the National Mourning Day in front of the Awami League’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue on Wednesday.  

“I’ve noticed that the BNP-Jamaat clique is talking of enforced disappearance, which Zia and his aides had pioneered in the country. I’m a witness (of that),” he said.

“Col Shahriar picked up Bachchu uncle, the brother of my aunt, after he was returning upon accompanying us to the border. The uncle remained unaccounted for ever since,” Parash recalled.     

After the gruesome killings of Bangabandhu and most of his family members along with some others in 1975, the politics of enforced disappearance surfaced in the country, according to the Juba League chief.

“But now they speak of enforced disappearance. It is also noticed that some of their leaders and activists go into hiding before coming public very often. They are trying to do politics on the issue,” he said.   

BNP, the Juba League leader said, had killed and abducted numerous leaders and activists during its 2001-06 tenure.

Questioning why the Hasina government would do so, he said: “Awami League  and its associate organisaions have been struggling for the rights of the people. 

“We don’t need to do the politics of enforced disappearance as we’re committed to establishing the rights of the countrymen,” he said. 

Stating that a vested quarter is plotting against the government as it did in 2001, he said such conspiracies are nothing new. 

The oganisation’s Presidium Member Manjur Alam Shaheen, Md Rafiqul Islam, Habibur Rahman Paban, Md Nabi Newaz, Md Moazzem Hossain, Mrinal Kanti Joddar, Md Jasim Matubbur and Md Anwar Hossain, among others, attended the programme.