Govt to form directorate for enforced disappearance victims
Proposed body would oversee treatment, legal aid, rehabilitation and compensation.
Highlights
- Medical care and compensation among proposed services
- Government considers new law for victims
- Rules of Business may be amended
- Minister says victims deserve state recognition
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has taken an initiative to form a new directorate for the welfare of individuals who fell victim to enforced disappearances, murders, torture, and extrajudicial killings, as well as their families.
The proposed directorate would oversee medical treatment, legal protection, rehabilitation and compensation for victims, as well as social and economic support for their families.
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The initiative was discussed at an inter-ministerial meeting at the ministry today (23 August).
Presided over by Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, the meeting was attended by State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain, Ministry Secretary Md Ashraful Islam, and senior officials from various ministries and divisions, according to a press release.
During the meeting, Minister Ahmed Azam Khan noted that victims of the [July mass uprising] have been granted state recognition, and a "July Mass Uprising Directorate" has been established for them.
Similarly, he emphasised the need for state recognition of the sacrifices made by individuals who faced disappearances, killings, torture, extrajudicial executions, and harassment through false cases during the long-standing democratic movement.
"Many people have been forcibly disappeared, murdered, blinded, or crippled. Many have become financially destitute after languishing in jail for years under false cases. State initiatives are required to stand by them and their families," he added.
The meeting also discussed the necessity of enacting a new law to ensure the rights and remedies of the victims. Discussions were held on ensuring rights, compensation, and rehabilitation in light of the United Nations' "Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation" and the Constitution of Bangladesh.
Three primary areas of focus were outlined are establishing the new directorate under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, enacting legislation to ensure victims' rights and compensation, and amending the Rules of Business 1996 to include these responsibilities in the ministry's purview.
State Minister Ishraque Hossain stated that a core spirit of the Liberation War was ensuring people's freedom, human rights, and democratic rights.
He alleged that these fundamental rights had been violated since 2009 through the deprivation of voting rights, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.
The initiative to form a new directorate and enact laws is being taken out of the state's responsibility toward the victims of such incidents, he added.
