In the wake of the 2024 July Uprising that brought down Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime, Sanjida Islam Tulee, founder of Mayer Daak – one of the country’s most prominent voices against enforced disappearances – has stepped into electoral politics. Recently nominated by BNP to contest in the upcoming national election expected in February, Tulee sees politics as the next phase of her struggle for truth and justice.
In an interview with Taufiq Hossain Mobin of TIMES of Bangladesh, she opens up about her decision to join mainstream politics, her plans to reform state institutions, and why she believes justice for victims of disappearances can only come through political change.
You have worked for human rights for a long time and are still doing so. Now you are entering mainstream politics. What are your plans in politics?
I never received any state or institutional support while continuing my activism against enforced disappearances. No investigations, no justice. My brother and thousands of others disappeared, and we all know which forces were involved, yet the truth never came out.
Even after the July Uprising, nothing really changed.
To fix the state, we must bring change to political ideology, as state forces were used politically. That is my plan. We must rebuild the system to ensure citizens’ safety. Thousands of victim families across Bangladesh are still waiting for justice — I am one of them. Unless we enter government, their voices will not be heard.
You have always protested from an anti-government position. As a nominated candidate of a major party, do you think you can keep that spirit alive if your party comes to power?
For 12 years we worked without support – only mothers, sisters, wives standing together. Politics doesn’t mean giving up human rights work. Until truth and justice are achieved, our struggle and Mayer Daak will continue.
If our party forms government, it must ensure no human rights violations happen again. This struggle passes from one generation to another. The trauma stays. What we can do is ensure truth, justice, and dignity for the families who suffered.
How will you reform state agencies accused of abductions if you become part of the state?
My first goal will be to clearly define the Standard Operating Procedures for every agency. Many abuses happened because institutions acted beyond their lawful responsibilities.
Every force must operate within legal and constitutional limits, and the state must ensure accountability.
If elected, what will be your priorities in Parliament?
My primary duty will be to serve the people. But my human rights work will continue In Parliament, I’ll fulfill my responsibilities while keeping my commitment to rights.
How do you plan to work for the families of the disappeared?
We have a list of over 350 people who never returned. Many families are still to come forward. Many lost their only earners. We’ll seek state support for them – education, healthcare, and livelihood aid.
Like freedom fighters receive recognition, these families also deserve state-backed assistance. The children who grew up protesting should now grow strong and lead the fight against injustice.
How are BNP workers and leaders responding to your nomination?
In Dhaka-14, there are many experienced leaders who’ve worked for decades. Most showed unity once the party nominated me. A few were upset, which is natural in a big party.
Everyone knows our bigger fight is for democracy. Some may need time, but I believe we’ll stand together. I’m grateful to everyone for their cooperation and the support they have shown.
What major problems do you see in your constituency, and how will you address them?
Mirpur is old and crowded. Public safety is a top concern – drugs, extortion, lawlessness. My priority is citizens’ safety. Roads, drainage, health, and education also need urgent improvement, free from political interference.
As both a human rights and political worker, how do you connect these roles?
I’ve worked with victims from every political background. My activism was never about party labels. Politics is now an extended form of human rights work. The demand is still the same: safety, justice, and dignity for every citizen.
What’s your view on allowing the Awami League in politics again?
Their past fifteen years were marked by disappearances, killings, and repression. That’s not politics; that’s tyranny.
From BDR mutiny to Shapla Chattar, to July uprisings – thousands of lives were destroyed. Let justice be served first. Only after a fair and transparent judicial process can the people decide whether they deserve to return to politics.
Jamaat-e-Islami, your likely electoral opponent, has controversial history regarding our independence. There are also questions about them being victims of repression during the previous regime. What is your stance on them?
I grew up learning to honor our Liberation War and the martyrs. Any force that worked against Bangladesh’s independence can never have my support. Jamaat may legally operate as a political party, but morally, I cannot stand with those who once opposed our nation.
Yes, some of their members were victims of repression – we’ve worked with them as human beings, not as politicians. And yes, they were mostly quiet against so much injustice during the previous 15 years, which raises questions about their claims of being victims of repression.
As a political entity, they still have to prove loyalty to Bangladesh. The people will judge them by actions, not slogans.
What kind of response are you getting from people?
People are hopeful. They see someone who fought for human rights for 15 years now standing for them. They see not just a politician, but a mother, a sister and a fighter which is my biggest strength.
How did Mayer Daak begin, and what does it stand for today?
It began after my brother Sajedul Islam Sumon was taken by Rapid Action Battalion in December 2013. My mother and seven other families held a press conference demanding truth – that’s where Mayer Dak was born. Since then, hundreds of families have joined.
We are living with the pain of not knowing – whether our loved ones are alive or dead – for over a decade now.
We cry together, we stand together, and that’s what gives us strength. Our only dream is that no mother in Bangladesh ever waits endlessly for her son again.
