Human rights activists and victims of enforced disappearances have urged the authorities to disband the Rapid Action Battalion for its alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions.
They made the urge at a joint consultation on enforced disappearances in Bangladesh, held between the rights groups in Bangladesh and members of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances on Monday during their four-day visit to Bangladesh, said a press release issued by Odhikar on Wednesday.
Odhikar, United for the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, and Human Rights Support Society attended the meeting convened by the UN Resident Coordinator鈥檚 Office in Dhaka.
Several recommendations were made by the rights groups, Victim families and survivors to the UN team.
Victim family members and individuals, who had survived enforced disappearance, were also present at the programme and shared their harrowing experiences.
The recommendations included conducting independent, impartial, and transparent investigations into all cases of enforced disappearances, withdrawing all false and fabricated cases filed against survivors, amendment of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and ensuring that those responsible for destroying evidence are prosecuted.
They also recommended that the UN group should provide technical support to the Government of Bangladesh for the implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and to improve forensic, legal, and investigative capacities in line with international human rights standards.
Earlier on Monday, Gra偶yna Baranowska, vice-chairperson, and Ana Lorena Delgadillo Perez, member of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances called on acting foreign secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique at the foreign ministry and discussed different relevant issues.
They are paying a study visit to Bangladesh from June 15 to 19, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
