Families of the victims of enforced disappearances formed a human chain in front of the High Court Mazar gate in the capital on Sunday.
The human chain which was formed under the banner of 'Maayer Daak,' demanded justice for those involved in abductions, extrajudicial killings and the operation of secret detention centres known as 'Aynaghar'.
They also submitted a memorandum to Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal after forming the human chain.
Holding portraits of their missing loved ones and placards reading "Missing but never forgotten", "Who destroyed the evidence of Aynaghar?", and "My brother is in Aynaghar-why are the murderers still in cantonment?", the demonstrators called for immediate state action.
Following the demonstration, Mayer Dak coordinator Sanjida Islam Tulee submitted a six-point memorandum to Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal.
The memorandum called for the public disclosure of the names of officers and government officials allegedly involved in enforced disappearances; the removal and prosecution of perpetrators from security forces including the army, Rab, DGFI, NSI, DB, and CTTC; preservation of evidence at the secret detention facility known as Aynaghar; legal action against those who destroyed evidence; constitutional and legal reforms to prevent further abuses; and formal recognition and state accountability for the suffering of victims' families.
Tulee warned that failure to act on these demands would result in larger public demonstrations and stronger resistance in the coming days.
Leaders from several opposition and rights-based organisations, including Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan, joined the protest in solidarity.
The platform also stressed the need for guarantees that enforced disappearances, torture and secret detentions will not recur in future.
