Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said he does not want anyone else to suffer enforced disappearance in Bangladesh, recalling his own 61‑day ordeal and calling for a law to ensure justice and punishment for perpetrators.
“I myself am a victim of enforced disappearance. I do not want anyone else to be disappeared in Bangladesh. We want such a law under which every victim can go to court, get justice and ensure punishment for those responsible,” he said.
The minister made the remarks as chief guest at an exhibition and panel discussion organised by Mayer Dak at the Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum, marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
He said the Enforced Disappearance Commission Ordinance was not passed in the first session because forming a commission alone would not solve the problem.
“The government has brought a law to Parliament under which a victim or their family can directly go to court and seek justice,” he said.
The proposed law defines types of enforced disappearance, sets punishments for different offences, outlines investigation procedures, and guarantees victims’ rights. Even if a missing person is not found, heirs will retain property rights, with provisions for compensation.
Salahuddin said those with opinions on the draft law can submit them to the parliamentary committee, adding that there will always be opportunities to amend the law. “There is no lack of sincerity on our part,” he further said.
He noted that past cases were limited to investigations, but the new law provides victims direct access to courts. It also includes a provision for maximum punishment of death depending on the offence.
Recalling his own disappearance, he described 61 days of uncertainty, confined in a small room about five by ten feet with only a blanket and thin pillow, and a foul‑smelling toilet in one corner.
“Every moment I felt, would I see the next dawn? When breakfast was served, I understood it was morning. I used to count the days by scratching numbers on the wall with my fingernail,” he said.
He recounted being taken by car to Shillong, India, and abandoned on a footpath. “They left me standing and said, ‘You are free now.’”
He sought help from locals, who informed police. Officers took him to a house and then to a hospital, where a doctor helped him contact his family. His wife screamed with relief when she heard his voice: “I knew you were alive.”
The home minister urged people not to make jokes about those who return after enforced disappearance. The programme demanded justice, truth and accountability for victims and their families.
