'My younger brother has been missing for 11 years': Families demand justice on Int'l Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances
The families sought the whereabouts of their relatives who fell victim to disappearances during the last 15 years of the Awami League government
"My younger brother has been missing for 11 years," said Rehana Akter Munni, sister of missing student leader Selim Reza Pintu, who was the president of the Chhatra Dal's Sutrapur police station unit.
Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal is the student wing of the BNP.
Rehana said Pintu was taken away 11 years ago by men claiming to be law enforcers. "They all were armed. I have not heard anything about him [Pintu] since then."
"For the past 11 years, we have had no joy or festivities. Who gave Hasina the audacity to forcibly disappear the independent citizens of Bangladesh?" she asked, demanding that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina "be hanged for her actions."
Family members and relatives of those who disappeared and forcibly taken away by the "law enforcers" during the Awami League (AL) regime held a human chain in front of the Central Shaheed Minar Friday morning to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
The event was organised by Mayer Daak, an organisation of the relatives of the disappeared and missing persons.
Relatives stood at the human chain holding pictures, banners, and placards of the missing individuals.
At the human chain event, those who had returned after being disappeared shared their terrifying experiences and also demanded compensation.
The families sought the whereabouts of their relatives who fell victim to disappearances during the last 15 years of the Awami League government.
"I want to speak to the interim government's Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, who has joined us many times, expressing solidarity," said one of the family members.
"Sir, please do something for us. We cannot take it anymore," she urged.