DHAKA, MAY 27 (V7N) – BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today stated that "democracy-loving people were deeply worried about the enforced disappearances" during the Awami League regime.

He made these remarks in a message issued on the occasion of the International Week of the Disappeared.

Fakhrul asserted that despite strong international protests regarding enforced disappearances in Bangladesh, the previous Awami League government "abducted leaders and activists of political opponents, including those from the BNP, for a decade and a half without paying heed to any criticism."

"Although people were abducted and disappeared in front of everyone's eyes, the fallen Awami League government always shamelessly denied the issue of disappearances in all international forums," he claimed.

The BNP Secretary General further stated that only a democratic government, elected through a fair election, can ensure the security of all people, as such a government is accountable to the people.

Citing an international human rights organization, he said that approximately 666 people were victims of enforced disappearances by Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies from 2009 to March 2024. According to BNP's own data, he added, the number is even higher, with some victims having been killed, some later shown arrested after a long time, and many still remaining missing.

The BNP Secretary General expressed deep sympathy to all victims of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh and around the world, as well as to their families.

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