Law adviser Asif Nazrul on Monday said that an initiative was taken to formulate a law on enforced disappearance within a month.
The adviser, while briefing journalists after holding a meeting with the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances at his office in the Secretariat on the day, said that they also had a plan to form a powerful permanent commission under the law to prevent enforced disappearance in future.
Responding to a question about the possibility of repealing the law by the next elected government, he said, 鈥楤NP, Jamaat, NCP or whoever will come to power, all of them became victims of enforced disappearances in the past.鈥�
He said that the fascist Awami League regime was involved in committing enforced disappearances during its regime.
鈥楾he then regime denied the UN working group鈥檚 access to the country and did not even respond to their official letters,鈥� he added.
鈥楾he UN working group has visited Bangladesh and held discussions with us. They have praised some of our initiatives, including the formation of the commission and the move to draft a law,鈥� he added.
The UN working group also recommended extending the tenure of the enforced disappearance commission, he said.
鈥榃e will also engage political parties, civil society, human rights activists, and students in consultations to determine the best course of action,鈥� he added.
The UN WGEID representatives also held separate meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.
Grazyna Baranowska, vice-chairperson, and Ana Lorena Delgadillo Perez, member of the UN WGEID, also called on acting foreign secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique in the morning at the ministry during their ongoing study visit to Bangladesh from June 15 to June 19.
During the meeting, the WGEID representatives expressed their interest in understanding how the group鈥檚 mandate could further support the government鈥檚 efforts to prevent and redress enforced or involuntary disappearances.
鈥楾he visiting WGEID delegation commended the significant steps taken by the interim government to address the issue of enforced disappearances, particularly welcomed Bangladesh鈥檚 accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,鈥� said a foreign ministry press release.
The foreign secretary underscored the government鈥檚 unwavering resolve to uphold, protect and promote human rights and ensure justice for victims.
He welcomed the Group鈥檚 support and technical assistance in the process moving forward.
UN WGEID also held a meeting with the commission on enforced disappearance where the commission chief and a former High Court Division judge, Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, informed that the commission had submitted two interim reports to chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus so far, said a commission press release.
鈥榃e have also handed over 100 missing enforced disappearance cases to the police for investigation,鈥� said the commission chair.
The commission members Sazzad Hossain, Nur Khan Liton and Farid Ahmed Shibli were also present and spoke at the meeting.
The UN group also stressed stronger bilateral relations with the commission for fair investigation and assured to help the commission.
The Commission said that it had received a total of 1,837 complaints related to enforced disappearances and following a first round of review, 1,772 of these complaints were entered into the commission鈥檚 database as active cases.
聽Among these active cases, 1,427 victims have surfaced alive, and 345 individuals remain missing till date.
