Rally in Suhrawardy demanding justice for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Thousands of people flocked, holding big pictures of their dear ones who had been disappeared and killed. Their hearts in pain, tears in their eyes, protest in their voices- those whose dear ones have been disappeared and killed during the last 15 years of the Awami League regime have gathered here to raise a demand for justice over the perpetrators behind this.
Thousands of people who were victims of outrage and torture due to dissent during the Awami League government have joined them in the same demand. Some of them have no legs, no hands, some have bandages on their feet; some are on crutches, and some have come carrying the shoulders of their loved ones. Many who have been victims of disappearances for a long time have come. They cried and cried as they recollected the brutal torture and loss of relatives.
They have demanded justice for all kinds of human rights violations including disappearances, murders, genocide and extrajudicial killings. They have demanded that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is accused of genocide, be brought back and brought to justice. He said, until the cases of disappearance, murder and extrajudicial killing are brought under justice, Awami League would not be able to return.
Marking the International Human Rights Day, ‘Mayer Dak’ organised a rally titled ‘Awami Fascist Atrocities Victims’ at the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan on Tuesday. Representatives of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, Commission on Disappearances, the movement of students against discrimination representatives, National Human Rights Commission representatives, local and foreign media workers, and leaders of various political parties joined the rally, as well. Extra security with an extra deployment of police took place around this huge rally.
The main program started at 2 pm with prayers and supplication. Sharmin Islam Tuli, convener of Mayer Dak presided over the rally. UN Senior Adviser on Human Rights Huma Khan and Commission on Disappearances member Nur Khan Liton joined as guests. Interim government advisor Nahid Islam,
Convenor of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Hasnat Abdullah, National Citizens Committee Convener Nasiruddin Patwary, Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Spokesperson Samantha Sharmin, Chief Organizer Sarjis Alam, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Executive Committee Member Hummam Quader Chowdhury, International Affairs Secretary Ishraq Hossain, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Mass Solidarity Movement Chief Coordinator Jonayed Saki, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, Dhaka Metropolitan North Secretary Shafiqul Islam, South Amir Nurul Islam Bulbul, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh General Secretary Azizul Haque Islamabadi, National Citizens Committee Convener Nasiruddin Patwari, Member Secretary Akhter Hossain, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party General Secretary Mojibur Rahman Manju, among others.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir sent a video message from London during the event. Several close relatives of Shaheed Khokon Chandra Barman, who lost their face to a police firing in the movement, alongside many victims of forced disappearances and murder also spoke during the mass congregation. His father Palash read out one of his letters, which Shaheed Shahriar Khan Anas penned for his parents before leaving the home on that fateful morning to participate in the anti-discrimination students’ movement.
Mother’s Call Coordinator Sanjida Islam Tuli said family members of victims of oppression and disappearance and murders during the Awami League regime have gathered here. The coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat were present. From here, we demand justice for the Peelkhana murder, torture and murder in police custody, enforced disappearance, July massacre, massacre in Shapla Chattar, crossfire and extrajudicial killings. The indiscriminate torture continued for a long 16 years under the then government of Awami League. A lot of people have not yet returned to their families. Even their whereabouts and how they are doing is not known. We want to know the whereabouts of the disappeared people.
Information and Broadcasting Advisor Nahid Islam said at the event, we will try all those involved in genocide and human rights violations while this government is in power.
Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said, indiscriminate disappearances, murders and torture have been carried out in the past years with the direct and indirect support of the Awami League government. This riot has given an opportunity to many people involved in such incidents to safely leave the cantonment. Those who gave this opportunity must be found.
Those who used our police for disappearances and murders, made films about fascists, and wrote in their favor-all must be found. Scholars have been killed on the prescription of India. They have now given shelter to murderers. If it continues, India will be a safe haven for criminals. Not only that, they wanted to create an unstable environment in Bangladesh by inciting minorities. But we did not fall into India’s trap. There will be no more politics of compromise with them. No more disappearances, no more murders. Either the motherland or death.
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