Major hurdles remain in Bangladesh on enforced disappearances: UN

A visiting United Nations delegation has expressed concern over the continued challenges Bangladesh faces in addressing enforced disappearances, despite the country's formal signing of the UN Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Following a meeting with Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Siddiqui on Monday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances spoke to reporters, emphasizing the need for urgent action.

"The fact that Bangladesh has signed the convention is a step forward, but serious challenges remain," said Grazyna Baranowska, Vice-Chair of the UN Working Group and head of the delegation. "The quickest and most effective way to address the crisis is by listening to the families of the disappeared and ensuring thorough investigations."

Baranowska noted the importance of monitoring law enforcement agencies more closely and stressed that the primary focus of the visit is to support victims and their families.

Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez, another member of the Working Group, described the visit as primarily academic. “We’re engaging with the government, civil society, victims of enforced disappearance, and their families. Our objective is to promote justice and support those affected,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Asif Nazrul, Law Adviser to the government, announced plans to establish a strong, permanent commission on enforced disappearances under a new law. Speaking at the Secretariat after meeting with the UN delegation, Dr. Nazrul said the new commission will continue from where the current one concludes.

He added that the UN delegation welcomed the government's initiative to draft a new law and pledged full cooperation. “We expect the legislation to be enacted within the next month,” Dr. Nazrul stated. “Once in place, this law will make it significantly more difficult and riskier for any government to engage in enforced disappearances.”

He also hinted at further progress ahead of the one-year anniversary of last July’s mass uprising, promising “positive developments” in the coming weeks.