Nahid accuses govt of obstructing disappearance probes

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has accused the BNP government of obstructing investigations into allegations of enforced disappearance and weakening the National Human Rights Commission.

“The BNP has repeatedly called for international investigations into enforced disappearances, yet now they do not even allow the country’s own forces to conduct inquiries. The government has also weakened the Human Rights Commission,” Nahid said.

He made the remarks on Friday while addressing a human chain organised by the NCP on Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. The programme was held to protest what the party described as the “passing of laws violating human rights, the suppression of dissenting views, and the curtailment of citizens’ fundamental rights by the BNP government”.

“The government is tarnishing the National Parliament by passing such laws within it,” Nahid said. “The fundamental democratic rights for which we once struggled have not yet been established. The government refuses to acknowledge the enforced disappearance of Miraj Sheikh. People are being silenced; a campaign of repression has begun.”

Nahid called for immediate and credible investigations into allegations of enforced disappearance and urged the Human Rights Commission to effectively discharge its statutory mandate.

He also called for cyber laws to be formulated in line with citizens’ fundamental rights.

Referring to alleged corruption during the BNP administration from 2001 to 2006, Nahid urged the government to use the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the allegations.

“Utilise the Anti-Corruption Commission to address the corruption that occurred between 2001 and 2006,” he said. “The current government has destroyed the ACC and is using it to target the opposition.”

Nahid further alleged that democracy and human rights were under threat under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

“Democracy and human rights are not safe in the hands of Tarique Rahman,” he asserted. “He is emerging as a new autocrat, but the people of the country will not allow that to happen; they will oust him through a movement.”