State accountability crucial to end enforced disappearances: ASK
International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances expresses solidarity with victims of enforced disappearance and their families.
The state must ensure accountability and effective protection to prevent enforced disappearances, rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) said in a press statement today (29 August).
The press release was issued ahead of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Observed on 30 August, the day expresses solidarity with victims of enforced disappearance and their families, calls for an end to human rights violations, and reaffirms the right to know the fate and whereabouts of missing persons.
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This year marks the 20th anniversary of the UN's adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) in 2006.
The theme, "Victims first. Actions now", calls for immediate action to protect victims' rights and dignity.
Bangladesh has faced allegations of enforced disappearances and their severe humanitarian consequences for years.
On 30 August 2024, the country joined the ICPPED, making a key international commitment to prevent and address such cases.
However, ASK expressed concern over new allegations of enforced disappearance in 2026 despite Bangladesh joining the convention.
The family of Miraj Sheikh, a young man from Mongla in Bagerhat, alleged that Coast Guard members detained and took him away, and he has not been seen since.
ASK called for a prompt and impartial investigation to establish the truth.
The government has approved the draft Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Act, 2026, to prevent and address enforced disappearances.
ASK welcomed the move but urged the government to seriously consider concerns raised by human rights activists and other stakeholders over some provisions.
It said the views of victims and their families, rights groups, lawyers and relevant experts should be considered before finalising the law.
ASK stressed that enacting a law alone would not end enforced disappearances. All allegations must be investigated independently and impartially, the whereabouts of missing persons established, and victims and their families guaranteed the right to know the truth.
It also called for establishing the truth and ensuring accountability for past cases, alongside effective state protection mechanisms to prevent enforced disappearances from recurring.
ASK expressed solidarity with victims and their families, calling for an end to enforced disappearances, disclosure of the fate and whereabouts of missing persons, and legal protection for all citizens.
